OLIVER PAIPOONGE – The Kam River Fighting Walleye have clawed their way back into top spot in the Superior International Junior Hockey League.
Their 6-3 win on Saturday night over the Fort Frances Lakers, combined with Sioux Lookout’s surprising 6-4 loss to the Wisconsin Lumberjacks, vaulted the Fighting Walleye (31-9-2) into first place, a point ahead of the second-year Bombers.
Kam River actually picked up four points on the day when the Fighting Walleye and Lakers decided to end Friday night’s game between the two teams exactly where on-ice officials left it, calling the game because of concerns about the ice conditions at Norwest Arena.
Kam River was awarded a 4-0 win in that one.
On Saturday, it was Evan Lachimea who led the way.
The veteran forward, who returned to the SIJHL mid-season after a stint in the Manitoba Junior Hockey League, scored twice for Kam River, giving him six on the season.
Edwin Liang, Braeden Duchesne, Liam Bell, and Carter Poddubny also scored for the host side.
Brody Lindal had a goal and two helpers for the Lakers, who were outshot 46-26 on the night.
Jack Wood had the other Fort Frances goal.
Ashton Sadauskas made 23 stops to pick up the win. Former Fighting Walleye goaltenders was successful on 40 of 45 shots he faced and took the loss in nets for the Lakers.
Thunder Bay 7, Red Lake 2: The Miners (26-14-2) scored first and last on Saturday night, but the North Stars (27-11-5) scored seven straight in between to claim a weekend split in Red Lake. Edison Weeks, the SIJHL’s points leader, scored once and added an assist and Sam Skillestad had a pair of goals from the blue-line to lead Thunder Bay to the win. Preston Tauter had both Red Lake goals.
Wisconsin 6, Sioux Lookout 4: The host Lumberjacks (14-20-5) scored four times in the third period to erase a 3-2 Bombes lead. Nolan Fowler had a goal and two assists for Wisconsin, with singles going to Kaden Postal, Dilon Phillips, Simon Davidson, Connor Corcoran and Koen Burkholder. Nolan Fowler had a goal and two assists for Sioux Lookout (29-9-4).
Dryden 6, Kenora 1: Max Roby scored twice and added an assist as the Ice Dogs won their third straight contest. Kenora got its lone goal late in the first from Jayden McPherson-Nepinak.
