THUNDER BAY – The Kam River Fighting Walleye had a message to deliver.
The Thunder Bay North Stars heard it loud and clear on Wednesday night.
Fuelled by a Jett Mintenko hat trick and a four-goal second period, the Fighting Walleye rolled into Fort William Gardens and over the North Stars, downing their 11/17 rival 7-3 to retake a share of top spot in the Superior International Junior Hockey League standings.
Kam River (15-3-0) entered the contest, albeit with three games in hand, two points behind the surging North Stars (14-5-2), who had picked up points in 15 straight outings, and the second-year Sioux Lookout Bombers (14-5-2).
Mintenko, a Thunder Bay product who spent last season with the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League’s Hearst Lumberjacks, where he posted 18 goals and 34 points in 53 appearances, upped his tally total to 11, but more importantly, the Fighting Walleye emphatically re-staked their claim as the top team in the eight-team circuit.
“It was a big game for us, obviously, coming off a loss last weekend. We wanted to come into their rink and set the tone,” Mintenko said. “A big key thing for us before the game was our effort and our compete. I think all four lines brought it today.”
It’s early, but any chance the Fighting Walleye have to make a statement, they’re going to take it, he added.
“We love beating these guys, so we’re going to take this momentum and keep rolling with it,” said Mintenko, his team back in the win column after having an eight-game win streak snapped on Saturday against the Dryden Ice Dogs.
Kam River coach Jesse Messier said it’s a little too soon to be watching the standings, with more than 30 games left on the Fighting Walleye schedule. But that said, it felt good to get the win.
“We just worry about handling our business each and every day. We’re trying to be the best we can. The guys do notice that we were sitting in second, but at the end of the day, we handle what we can control and that’s what we worry about in our locker room,” Messier said, just as happy to see his forward rediscover his goal-scoring groove, after lighting the lamp just once in his previous nine games.
“(Jett) really led the charge, for sure. He’s a strong player each and every night, whether he’s on the scoreboard or not. I wouldn’t even call it a slump, because he pitches in almost every night, but it was nice to see him break out again,” Messier said. “He’s had a couple big nights for us this year already.”
Indeed, it was Mintenko’s second hat trick of the season.
It felt good to finally put the puck back in the net, Mintenko said.
“Yeah, I was on a little cold streak there, but it was all my linemates who set me up on three beautiful plays."
Edison Weeks opened the scoring for Thunder Bay at 6:03 of the first, beating Ashton Sadauskas in the Kam River net.
The lead stood for 92 seconds before Mintenko potted his first of the night. Dunmore gave the Fighting Walleye the lead for good, just over two minutes later. They’d score four unanswered in the third, Sam Sargent, Nickolas Fagnilli, Mintenko and Dunmore scoring in an eight-minute span to up the Kam River lead to 6-1 after one.
The final goal of the period chased North Stars starter Keenan Marks, who stopped just 13 of 19 shots fired his direction.
Cohen Tangedal’s fifth of the season cut the Walleye lead again to four, but Mintenko completed his hat trick minutes later, beating Ethan Barron for the first and only time of the night. Beau Helmeczi rounded out the scoring with 4:59 to go.
The Fighting Walleye host the Fort Frances Lakers on Saturday night, while Thunder Bay travels to Dryden.
FIRST PERIOD
Scoring: 1. Thunder Bay, Weeks 12 (Mikus, Paddington) 6:03. 2. Kam River, Mintenko 9 (Nailen, Poddubny) 8:35. 3. Kam River, Dunmore 11 (Doucette) 10:49 pp. Penalties: Desjardins TB (slew foot double minor) 10:31, Wright (goaltender interference) 17:35.
SECOND PERIOD
Scoring: 4. Kam River, Sargent 1 (Debray) 8:45. 5. Kam River, Fangilli 10 (Dunmore, Bell) 12:50 pp. 6. Kam River, Mintenko 10 (Nailen, Poddubny) 15:14. 7. Kam River, Dunmore (unassisted) 16:24. Penalties: Paddington TB (hooking) 5:41, Skillestad TB (slashing) 12:26, Goodwin KRW (slashing) 17:56.
THIRD PERIOD
Scoring: 8. Thunder Bay, Tengedal 5 (Trahiotis, O’Brien) 8:54. 9. Kam River, Mintenko 11 (Nailen) 11:19. 10. Thunder Bay, Helmeczi (Jones) 15:01. Penalties: Nailen KRW (misconduct) 11:19, Bell KRW (holding) 18:36, Fagnilli KRW, Caddo TB (cross checking), Jordan TB (roughing) 19:39
GAME DATA – SOG – Kam River 11-9-7-27, Thunder Bay: 9-13-14-36; Power plays (goals-chances) – Kam River (2-5), Thunder Bay (0-3); Goaltenders – Kam River: Ashton Sadauskas, Thunder Bay: Keenan Marks (19 shots, 13 saves), Ethan Barron (16:24 second); A: 874.
