THUNDER BAY – The Sioux Lookout Bombers aren’t catching anyone by surprise any more.
The Superior International Junior Hockey League expansion teams continued its winning ways on Saturday night, riding Jake Manners’ 34-save, shutout performance in a 1-0 win over the retooled Thunder Bay North Stars at Fort William Gardens.
Owen Riffel had the game’s only goal, beating Conner Lemieux with a shorthanded marker 11:19 into the second.
It was the only one of 35 shots to get past Lemieux, but it was enough to earn the Bombers the win and helped them keep pace with the Red Lake Miners in the battle for third in the standings.
The North Stars (14-10-4) remained in fifth.
Dryden 9, Red Lake 5: Captain Brady Frattinger had a hat truck and James Hooton and Landen Stromme put up a goal and two assists apiece as the Ice Dogs picked up the weekend split against the Kam River Fighting Walleye at the Norwest Arena. Sebastiano Biagi had a pair, with singles going to Jordan Pfoh and Bryce Benfield. Noah Kramps had a pair for the Fighting Walleye, who had won seven straight heading into Saturday night.
