OLIVER PAIPOONGE – There’s nothing like a little home-ice boost.
Carter Poddubny scored 1:46 into Saturday night’s contest and Adam Kukko added a second-period tally, his first in a Kam River uniform, and the Fighting Walleye held on to edge the visiting Sioux Lookout Bombers 3-2 at Norwest Arena, capturing their 10th straight win a home.
Decked out in Christmas themed jerseys, the Fighting Walleye were a bit more Scrooge-like to their opponent, goaltender Sam Keene stopping all but two shots directed his way, despite his team facing six shorthanded situations over the course of the night, including a lengthy 4-on-3 disadvantage in the first.
The Fish Tank, as the arena is sometimes known, is not a friendly place for visitors.
Kam River has lost just three times on home ice this season, taking advantage of the cozy confines of the rink also named after the NHL’s Staal brothers, to play a physical, intimidating style of hockey.
Poddubny, who has 12 goals, said it’s not a welcoming bard for other teams.
“I think it’s just our fan base and everything to do with our arena. It’s a good atmosphere here and I think it takes a toll on other teams,” he said.
Coach Larry Wintoneak, his team winning its sixth straight overall, said winning at home is one thing he’s preached since arriving mid-season.
“We want to be able to be hard to play against. When I first got here, that was one of my mandates. We just can’t give easy points away at home. If you can play .500 or plus on the road, and you take care of business at home, you’re going to give yourself a good chance to get there,” Wintoneak said.
“It’s a credit to these guys. They bought in 100 per cent.”
Wintoneak said the Fighting Walleye (20-8-0) have proven they can win just about any kind of contest. On Friday the top line of Daxton Lang, Kaden Goodwin and Jett Mintenko combined for 18 points and scored all seven goals.
On Saturday they were mostly held in check, Lang and Mintenko picking up an assist apiece to remain tied atop the SIJHL scoring parade, and it was the defence and special teams that got the job done.
“It was an ugly game. It was greasy. We had to find a way to win. Your top guys didn’t get those chances, so it was the other guys that had to come out and your secondary scoring, and I’m really proud of the guys that came through.”
Poddubny set the tone early, beating Matthew Spencer-Dahl less than two minutes in.
“I had a guy coming through the middle. I found my outside guy, drove the net and got a lucky shin pad an in,” Poddubny said.
Kukko doubled the score 3:14 into the second and the Walleye appeared to be taking a 2-0 lead into the third, but a late-period penalty cost the home side when Kaden Veller buried a shot through traffic from the slot to cut the Kam River lead to 2-1.
The Bombers had three power-play chances in the third, but couldn’t find the equalizer and Max Wright put the game all but out of reach with 4:49 to go in regulation, potting his seventh of the season.
Sage Roberts, with Spencer-Dahl on the bench, brought Sioux Lookout (`6-9-3) within a goal, but only seven seconds remained in regulation.
Notes: The Kenora Islanders game against Fort Frances has been listed as cancelled on the SIJHL site. The team also postponed Friday night’s game against Dryden. No reason for the cancellation has been given. The Islanders are scheduled to play the Thunder Bay North Stars next weekend at Fort William Gardens.
