The Thunder Bay North Stars celebrate a goal during Game 3 of their semifinal series against the Dryden Ice Dogs on April 11, 2023 (Adam Riley/Acadia Broadcasting)

The all Lakehead final of the SIJHL playoffs are now underway and going into Game 2, Thunder Bay leads the series.

The Kam River Fighting Walleye coming off almost a week of rest, after they sent the Wisconsin Lumberjacks home after 5 games, came out swinging, literally, with Mackenzie Sedgwick picking up a penalty for hooking.

10 minutes later Thunder Bay North Stars forward Evan Lachimea was sent to the box for slashing thus proving that despite wrapping up a grueling 7 game run which ended in double overtime Thursday against the Dryden Ice Dogs, Thunder Bay still has plenty of fight left in them.

Noah Kramps ended up getting Kam River on the board first after putting the puck past netminder Keenan Marks three quarters of the way into the first, however with 45 seconds left Dimitri Trahiotis evens things up for Thunder Bay.

Shots on net were unbalanced that period with Kam River pelting Thunder Bay 22-7.

Both teams picked up a penalty each in the 2nd, before Kam River’s Kyle Lamoureaux gets his first goal of the playoffs on a power play with just over a minute to go in the 2nd.

Shots on net for that period showed Thunder Bay sending 19 shots at Eric Vanska while the Walleye returned 13 in the direction of Marks.

3rd period, and this is where the fun begins, Edison Weeks, taking the advantage given to the North Stars after Brydon Bell picks up an interference call, finds the back of the net.

Thunder Bay not satisfied with breaking even, they pump up the pressure in the final 6 minutes with Lachimea picking up his first of the playoffs with an unassisted goal, followed up by a second goal of the night from Weeks.

The Walleye, like the actual fish, putting up a fight to the bitter end and Jack Cook finds the back of the net with 7 seconds left to go.

Final score 4-3 Thunder Bay North Stars.

The quest to see who the winner of the Bill Salonen Cup continues tonight with Game 2 out at Norwest Arena.