North Stars complete three deals

Press Release

THUNDER BAY, Ont. – The Thunder Bay North Stars have announced three separate deals heading into the start of their on-ice action for the 2011-12 campaign.

The initial deal saw the North Stars exchanging the Hockey Canada playing rights of goaltender Jay Pelletier to the Northern Hawks of the Thunder Bay Jr. B Hockey League for the rights to defenceman Marshall Fox.

Pelletier posted a 13-3-1-1 record for the North Stars in 2010-11 with a 2.64 goals-against average and .901 save percentage with three shutouts.

Secondly move sees club exchange playing rights of forward Matt Kaarela from the Neepawa Natives of the MJHL for the rights of forward Casey Dean.

In 55 MJHL games last season the 19-year-old Kaarela picked up 23 points on six goals and 17 assists.

Thirdly the Stars moves the playing rights of defenceman Daniel Salokari to the Jr. B Stars of the Thunder Bay Jr. B Hockey League, which completed an earlier move in which the SIJHL club secured the rights of forward Brandon Wolframe.

Every player involved in the transactions are from Thunder Bay.

The North Stars begin exhibition play this weekend when they travel to Manitoba for games against Neepawa and the defending MJHL champion Portage Terriers.

They will then open up SIJHL regular season play Sept. 16 at Fort Frances vs. the Lakers.

(Nathan can be reached at fourniern@students.nescom.edu)