SIJHL Week #10 Preview

Thunder Bay, ON
November 19, 2021

Week 10 of the SIJHL season got off to a great start on Wednesday November 17 with the Thunder Bay North Stars eking out a 2-0 victory on home ice against the newly nationally-ranked Kam River Fighting Walleye.

Play continues tonight and tomorrow with a full slate of games.

Red Lake Miners at Kam River Fighting Walleye,
Friday November 19, Saturday November 20, 7:30pm,
Norwest Arena.

Looking to rebound from Wednesday’s loss, the Fighting Walleye will host the Red Lake Miners in what will be a showcase series battle for first place in the SIJHL standings.

Additionally the Miners and Fighting Walleye are neck-and-neck in the CJHL National Rankings, currently sitting at #7 and #8 respectively.

It will be a battle between the league’s stingiest defence (Kam River, 2.07 goals allowed per game average) against the most-potent offence (Red Lake, 5.38 goals per game scored average).

Thunder Bay North Stars at Thief River Falls Norskies,
Friday November 19, Saturday November 20, 7:30pm
Ralph Engelstad Arena.

Thunder Bay – winners of two of their last 3 – look to carry the positive momentum from Wednesday’s home win against Kam River into Thief River Falls while the Norskies are looking to turn a strong bounce-back game vs. Dryden last weekend into some points in the SIJHL standings this weekend.

After suffering a 7-2 loss at the hands of the Ice Dogs at home last Saturday night, the Norskies came to play on Sunday afternoon in a game that was looking like it would need extra time before Dryden broke the tie late in the game.

The North Stars have dropped 6 of their last 7 on the road, and are looking to establish some consistency away from the Fort William Gardens.

Dryden GM Ice Dogs at Wisconsin Lumberjacks,
Friday November 19, Saturday November 20, 7:30pm
Spooner Civic Center.

This matchup will be an interesting one for two teams that find themselves in the middle-of-the-pack in the SIJHL standings.

The Ice Dogs are currently four points up on the Lumberjacks (Wisconsin has a game in hand).

An Ice Dogs sweep, while keeping the Wisconsin side in 5th place  will put them at least 7 points of a top-4 spot.  It would also put Dryden firmly in the mix as a top-4 team in the standings.

Conversely, the Lumberjacks can make a statement by putting some W’s on the board this weekend in an attempt to keep pace with the top teams in the standings.

The Fort Frances Lakers have a bye weekend.