RED LAKE, Ont. – The Red Lake Miners picked up two points apiece from Noah Kwasny and Spencer Milne to help them commence the 2020 portion of their Superior International Junior Hockey League schedule with a 4-1 home ice triumph over the Wisconsin Lumberjacks Friday evening at Cochenour Arena.
Red Lake opened the scoring 6:36 into the contest as Milne sprung Jordan Baranesky on a break down the left wing where he whipped a shot past Wisconsin starter Nathan Mueller.
The Lumberjacks drew even later in the first frame as some nice passing early into a man advantage resulted in Cameron Birkeland burying one from the slot for his fourth goal on the season.
In the second stanza, the Miners regained the lead at 14:16 with Morgan Venne being the recipient of some nice work from Kwasny and Milne, in what proved to be the game-winner.
Kwasny then made it 3-1 early in the early as he snapped a shot into the left corner of the net.
Red Lake then wrapped up the night’s scoring late in the third as Tucker Evans stuffed one in from close range for his ninth marker of the season just before time expired.
The win helped the Miners move to within five points of league-leading Thunder Bay in the SIJHL standings while also holding one game in hand.
Shots on net 34-23 in favour of Wisconsin with Zach Willms picking up the victory while Mueller suffered the defeat.
The same two teams meet again Saturday back in Red Lake at 7 p.m.
Photo credit: Patrick Boucha