Walleye captain trying to end career with another championship

One Bill Salonen Cup Championship isn’t enough for Kam River Fighting Walleye Captain Max Wright.

The Colorado Springs, Colorado product is playing his final year of junior hockey and is on an exclusive list that includes defenceman Zach Fortin as well as forwards Jeremy Dunmore, Anthony Oviedo and Daxton Lang.

Wright admits being the captain is a big responsibility, adding “it’s big shoes to fill with the pedigree (of leadership that) we’ve had here, I don’t take it lightly at all. It’s a large job and task to take on, but I’m honoured to be the captain of these guys. I love all of them.”

“The guys in the room want to be here. We want to win, and we have a vision in mind to go win Bill, and that’s our goal. The work began in August, and some things may have not gone our way, but it’s a New Year, and that means we get a new opportunity.”

The Fighting Walleye began the regular season with just one win in three September games and then reeled off a 7-3 record in the month of October. The team went .500 in the month of November (3-3-1-2) and head into the New Year sitting in third place (15-9-2-3).

“Everybody on the team plays a role,” answered Wright, when asked about any standouts. “You could look at the standings, you could look at the points, but it doesn’t matter. Everyone has value, whether your first line or fourth line player, not in the lineup on a given night, you’re the starting goaltender or the backup. Everybody plays a part in this, and I think that’s what makes our team so special.”

The Fighting Walleye feature nine local players and seven players born in the United States.

“It’s funny because when I first came up here, I thought it was going to be a big stigma around Americans, but it’s all love in that locker room,” Wright noted. “That’s not just from me; everyone in the room makes everyone else feel welcome, especially the new guys. And, you know, it’s a good culture, it’s a good atmosphere.”

The Red Lake Miners were the opposition for a pair of milestones for Max Wright. He hit the 100-game plateau in the regular season on Friday, December 12^th and made his debut with the Fighting Walleye on Friday September 22, 2023. He registered an assist in a 6-3 Red Lake victory.

“You don’t take things for granted as a 20-year-old,” Wright reflected. “When I wake up in the morning, I know I only get one shot at the day which involves putting your best foot forward. I don’t think I’ve taken any days for granted, so I’m going to keep that going.”

The Fighting Walleye are the defending Bill Salonen Cup Champions, which is their second league title since playing their first full season in the Superior International Junior Hockey League (SIJHL) in 2021-2022.

JANUARY 2026 SCHEDULE

Friday 9^th @ Ironwood Lumberjacks
Saturday 10^th @ Ironwood Lumberjacks
Tuesday 13^th vs. Fort Frances Lakers
Friday 16^th @ Red Lake Miners
Saturday 17^th @ Red Lake Miners
Friday 23^rd @ Fort Frances Lakers
Saturday 24^th @ Fort Frances Lakers
Friday 30^th @ Sioux Lookout Bombers
Saturday 31^st @ Sioux Lookout Bombers