OLIVER PAIPOONGE – It's a game that played out as advertised.
The Kam River Fighting Walleye (27-3-1), riding a 16-game winning streak, invited the Dryden Ice Dogs, winners of eight of their last 10, into the Fish Tank – otherwise known as the Norwest Arena – on Sunday night and the two teams put on a display of defensive excellence that led to the game being decided by a single shot.
The backhand shot, following a deke that pulled Dryden goaltender Cole Johnston position, was the lone goal of the shootout, earning the Fighting Walleye a hard-fought 3-2 win, extending their winning streak to 17 games.
The two points were all that mattered said Kam River coach Matt Valley. The streak was secondary.
“We actually don't talk about the streak at all, as a team,” Valley said. “We talk a little bit about it as management, and it's crazy, and with you guys, but it's really not something we're even thinking about. In the back of our minds, we definitely are, especially our unbeaten record at home. That's something we're really proud of and want to continue. But at the end of the day we're focused on playing the right way.”
It's also about being able to respond to adversity.
The Ice Dogs (18-10-2), who won league titles in 2017 and 2018, are among the top three teams in the Superior International Junior Hockey League, and as likely a team to reel in the Fighting Walleye as any team in the six-team circuit.
It was the Ice Dogs who struck first, Ondrej Bardos needing just 57 seconds to put the puck past Kam River goaltender Austin Madge for his 12th of the season.
But newly acquired Hayden Woodcroft, picked up at the trade deadline from the Central Canadian Hockey League's Carleton Place Canadians, scored both Kam River regulation time goals, eight minutes apart in the opening period on Sunday night, putting the Fighting Walleye in front 2-1, a lead they'd carry to the third.
Woodcroft has been a boon to the Fighting Walleye offence, scoring five times and adding four assists in just five appearances.
It's been the perfect fit, he said.
“It's been really nice. I do my part, but I've got to thank the other guys for accepting me into the team really quick,” the 6-foot-5 forward said. “For sure the coaches for giving me the opportunity. Without that, I wouldn't be where I am.”
The second period was scoreless, but had plenty of action, including a fight between Kam River's Braeden Duchesne and Dryden's Brady Frattinger. Both players were ejected.
Dryden had a couple of early chances to even the score in the third.
Maxime Collette, overtaken by Red Lake forward Jordan Baranesky's six-point night for the SIJHL scoring lead, had a shorthanded opportunity on a partial breakaway, but was stopped by Madge. Minutes later Lang Lee fired high on an unobstructed shot from the slot.
It was Tristan Takats who finally netted the equalizer, chipping it past Madge on a power play at the 8:42 mark.
Kam River entered the overtime period with a 45-second power play, but was unable to capitalize, despite putting pressure on Johnston.
Dunmore scored what would prove to be the winner on the first shot of the shootout. Madge stood tall against Bardos, Collette and Takats and the win was in the books.
“We were just pretty composed because you have to be in those situations,” Woodcroft said. “I thought we were and we generated some good scoring chances and they paid off in the shootout there.
The win streak might not be talked about, but it's important, he added.
“It just shows the character we have as a team and the culture that the management has built. We just want to keep it going.”
They'll get their chance to extend the streak on Monday afternoon, the two meeting again at 1:30 p.m.
Red Lake 17, Wisconsin 4: Brady Harroun had three goals and four assists and Noah Cramps and Ethan Pool each had three goals and three assists to lead the Miners (22-3-2) to the lopsided win.
FIRST PERIOD
Scoring: 1. Dryden, Bardos 12 (Ware, Frattinger) 0:53. 2. Kam River, Woodcroft 4 (Lang, Enegren) 3:36 pp. 3. Kam River, Woodcroft 5 (Oviedo) 11:44. Penalties: Lee DRY (high sticking) 3:21, Takats DRY (cross checking) 11:44 Fortin KFW (unsportsmanlike conduct) 17:50.
SECOND PERIOD
Scoring: No scoring. Penalties: Oviedo KR (unsportsmanlike conduct) 1:59, Gagnon DRY (interference) 6:42, Duchesne KFW (tripping, fighting, game misconduct), Frattinger DRY (fighting, game misconduct) 10:51, Fragnilli DRY (boarding) 14:26.
THIRD PERIOD
Scoring: 4. Dryden, Takats (Collette, Gagnon) 8:44 pp. Penalties: Jacques DRY (roughing) 1:47, McNeil KFW (tripping) 7:45, Gallagher KFW (interference) 15:57, Earl DRY (hooking) 18:45.\
OVERTIME
Scoring None. Penalties: Veneruzzo DRY (interference) 4:58.
SHOOTOUT
Kam River – Dunmore (goal)
Dryden – Bardos (no goal)
Kam River – Enegren (no goal)
Dryden – Collette (no goal)
Kam River – Woodcroft (no goal)
Dryden – Takats (no goal)
GAME DATA – SOG – Dryden 18-11-10-1-40, Kam River 13-10-10-3-36; Power plays (goals-chances) – Dryden (1-6), Kam River (1-6); Goaltenders – Dryden: Cole Johnston, Kam River: Austin Madge; A: 275.
