The North Stars returned to Fort William Gardens for their home opener, the first time they played in the arena in 305 days.

It was a perfect night under the new scoreboard, the North Stars beating the Wisconsin Lumberjacks 4-0 in front of 512 fans.

This is their sixth straight win, after taking five of their first six games on the road.

The Lumberjacks played with a short bench, running just 12 skaters.

During the pre-game the team’s new jerseys were revealed, the players got their introductions, and there was a ceremonial puck drop from the Boys and Girls Club of Thunder Bay.

First Period

William Demkiw opened up the scoring late in the first, a one-timer assisted by Dimitri Trahiotis and Anthony Kuzenko. The North Stars added a second soon after off a wrist shot from Hunter Foreshew. Goalie Jordan Smith made a few big stops late in the first to ensure Thunder Bay carried the two goal lead into the intermission.

Second Period

The North Stars got into some penalty trouble early in the second, but were able to kill a two-man advantage. It was then that Thunder Bay was able to convert on the power play, Dimitri Trahiotis picking out the corner from the top of the circle, his second point of the night. The North Stars quickly made it a 4-0 game, Lou Vespereni netting a short handed goal. The North Stars killed the penalty, and took a four goal lead into the third.

Third Period

The third started with some solid scoring chances by the North Stars, hitting the post and crossbar within the first few minutes of the period. Thunder Bay did apply some pressure in the period, but Lumberjacks goalie Charles Beehler made a few stellar stops to keep it a four goal game.

North Stars goalie Jordan Smith stopped all 22 shots he faced to preserve the shutout.

Head Coach Rob DeGagne explains the excitement of being able to once again play at Fort William Gardens.

“It is so nice to be here,” says DeGagne. “It’s amazing, you get on the road and you forget you have a home, but it’s been a long time and last year we didn’t play too many games here an it’s really been like 18 months since we played here, and the kids were super excited.”

The North Stars remain first in the league moving to 6-1-0, while the Lumberjacks fall to 2-2-1.

Both teams match up again Saturday night again at Fort William Gardens.