It may be the end of November, but the teams of the Superior International Junior Hockey League are just beginning their regular season. With just two exhibition games played the Red Lake Miners home opener looked like a “normal” opener in September. The visiting Dryden Ice Dogs came out on top in the first of two games at Cochenour Arena 6-1.
New players learning to play with one another, sloppy play, and several penalties were in full effect in the game, which saw Dryden score three shorthanded goals. With the Miners on the powerplay Cameron Ware scored the opening goal for Dryden at 12:09 of the first. Just :20 later an awkward bounce fooled Red Lake goaltender Sam Gendron and another shorthanded tally, this time by Jackson Jacques.
Nolan Marshall scored the first of two goals to open second period scoring to make it 3-0. Marshall would score shorthanded in the third.
It was 12:31 of the second period when the Miners found the back of the net for the first time as Brady Herroun scored on the powerplay. Assisting on the play was Ryan Howe and Mason Mantzavrakos.
🚨 Brady Harroun scores the first Miners goal of the season!
Ryan Howe and Mason Mantzavrakos assist on the goal at 12:31 of the second period. https://t.co/VJeaZfADrc #SIJHL pic.twitter.com/cnJAQsUiQV— Red Lake Miners (@RedLakeMiners) November 30, 2020
Dryden would recapture momentum though adding another before the intermission break, leading 4-1. Derek Koivisto was the goal scorer.
The teams combined for just seven shots on net in the third, but two of the three by the Ice Dogs went in. Brett Murphy was the winning goaltender with 19 saves. Gendron took the loss stopping 21 of 27 shots against.
The teams will meet again on Monday night 7:30 PM at Cochenour Arena.