RED LAKE, Ont. – Red Lake Miners captain Shaye Sommerfeld tallied twice, including the game-winner, and added an assist to help lift his Red Lake Miners to a 3-1 win over the Wisconsin Lumberjacks Saturday in Superior International Junior Hockey League play at Cochenour Arena.
Celebrating his 20th birthday, Sommerfeld got the Miners going on a two-man advantage and he stuffed one in from close range with help from teammates Morgan Venne and Kyle Uzelman at 6:45 of the first period.
Regrouping, Wisconsin drew level in the final minute of the frame when defender Darren Shykes rang the puck high off the glass out to where Ryan Green outraced a diving Red Lake goalkeeper Zach Willms and was left with a tap in into an empty net to knot the affair at 1-1.
Coming out quickly to commence the second stanza, the home side went back on top 41 seconds in as Sommerfeld added another off a point shot from Sean Gula rang off the post, that bounced to Ryan Howe, who got it over, allowing the Miners’ captain to collect the eventual game-winner.
Adding another at 5:46 of the frame, Red Lake used some quick movement from Sommerfeld over to Howe who came around the goal and fed Ethan Stuckless in front, who promptly fired a quick shot that beat Lumberjacks goaltender Nathan Mueller.
It was a defensive battle the rest of the way that did see the Lumberjacks fire 13 shots on Willms in the third to try and get closer, but the night ended up 3-1 in the Miners’ favour.
Shots on goal were 31 apiece with Willms picking up the win while Mueller suffered the defeat.
Photo credit: Patrick Boucha