The Kenora Thistles Under 18 Hockey team has received its first taste of Junior Hockey.
The Thistles made their SIJHL debut Sunday night losing 9-1 to the Fort Frances Lakers.
Dryden’s Aidan Bullock scored the lone goal.
The Thistles will play against the western-based teams in Dryden, Fort Frances and Red Lake, while the Thunder Bay Kings will serve as opponents for the league’s two Thunder Bay-based teams.
They fill the gap with the absence of the American teams and will allow them to see game play as their respective leagues are suspended due to COVID-19.
Scoring for the Lakers included Presten Bobyk (2), James Pedersen (2), Ethan Jourdain, Benjamin Hoefler, Flynn Perry, Nakoda Thunderchief and Reece Hopfner.
Ethan Hein stopped 23 shots for his first SIJHL victory in net.
The Lakers fired 57 shots on Kaden King and Darian Klem.
The two teams return to action on December 11 in Fort Frances.
