RED LAKE, Ont. – A four-goal second period outburst aided in a 4-2 triumph by the Red Lake Miners Friday night in Superior International Junior Hockey League action at Cochenour Arena.
The visiting Lumberjacks took the play to the Miners in the first frame and were rewarded with the night’s opening tally with Dalton Garcia beating Red Lake’s Zach Willms from the slot during a man advantage opportunity at 15:33.
The home side got going early in the second when Ethan Stuckless stuffed in the equalizer a couple minutes in to knot the affair at 1-1.
Rajvir Sangha’s initial SIJHL tally at 6:31 gave the Miners the lead as he finished off a Stuckless set-up.
The Red Lake power play aided in their third marker of the stanza with captain Shaye Sommerfeld extending the cushion midway through the contest.
Continuing to press, the hosts added another at 15:30 with Ryan Howe snapping a shot that beat Wisconsin starter Michael Siciliano, who then gave way to back-up Nathan Mueller the rest of the away.
Heading to the third, the Lumberjacks did draw closer in the latter stages of the night when Tyler Montoya sent a crisp pass to a waiting Matt Turnbull who beat Willms in what proved to be the evening’s final goal.
Stuckless and Howe both finished with three point nights for the Miners.
Willms made 29 saves in recording the win.
Siciliano suffered the setback for Wisconsin, allowing the four against on 16 attempts while Mueller handled all seven shots he faced in relief.
The same two teams meet again Saturday back in Red Lake at 7 p.m.
Photo credit: Patrick Boucha