The Sioux Lookout Bombers are the top team in the Superior International Junior Hockey League.
The Bombers won a pair of overtime games against the Dryden GM Ice Dogs, including a 4-3-win Saturday night.
That followed up on a 3-2 victory Friday night.
The Fort Frances Lakers have yet to lose a game this season and sit just behind the Bombers in the standings, with one fewer game played.
The Lakers played just one game this weekend and defeated the Thunder Bay North Stars 7-1 Friday night.
The Red Lake Miners are still searching for their first win of the season after dropping a pair to the Kam River Fighting Walleye.
The Walleye defeated the Miners 3-2 Saturday night, and Kam River won in a shootout Friday night 4-3.
The Dryden Eagles High School football team improved to 4-1 in the Winnipeg High School Football League with a 58-7 thrashing of the Daniel McIntyre Maroons Friday afternoon.
Six different Eagles scored touchdowns and Jackson Wilson and Greyson Warren intercepted Maroon’s passes on defense.
The Eagles next play the St. Norbert Celtics in Winnipeg on Friday.
The Beaver Brae Broncos weren’t so lucky. The Broncos dropped a 55-13 decision to the John Taylor Pipers on Friday. With the loss Beaver Brae falls to 1-4 on the season.
The Fort Frances Muskies did not play as their game against the St. John’s Tigers was cancelled.
A golfer from Confederation College has captured the gold medal at the Ontario Colleges Athletic Association (OCAA) Provincial Golf Championships.
Nathan Lepore earned this year’s title on Wednesday at Watson Glen Golf Club in Pickering, where he posted even par scores in the opening two rounds before scoring a 71 on the final day.
Lepore would finish at one-under 215, securing a three-stroke victory and ensuring him a spot on the OCAA Men’s Golf All Ontario Team.
The win also makes Lepore the first-ever OCAA golf medalist in Confederation College history as well as the first-ever OCAA individual champion from the Thunder Bay school.
“This win means a lot to me,” said Lepore in a news release. “I worked hard over the offseason to be ready for this moment, and I’m proud to bring home gold for Confederation College and the Thunderhawks.”
Thunderhawks Athletics teammates Trevor Green, Hunter Hutchinson, Eric Pitkanen and Carson Stone also competed in the tournament.
Lepore will now head to the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) National Golf Championships, which take place October 12–17 at Desert Blume Golf Course in Alberta.
A perfect 4-0 record to begin the season for the Fort Frances Lakers.
Head Coach and General Manager Luke Judson’s squad completed the opening month of the campaign with a 3-2 victory over the Kam River Fighting Walleye on Saturday, September 27th.
“I think we got better as each period went on, we showed our resiliency and that we’re here to contend this year,” said forward Carter Peters following the game. “I just think we’re so together this year. I feel like last year, maybe we weren’t as close. I think this year, all the boys are just buying into the system, and it’s clearly working well.”
Photo credit: Clint Bruyere
Defenceman Wyatt Greer felt it was a gusty effort by the team that night, adding “There are different expectations this year [for this team]. We’re real contenders.”
The Lakers are tied atop the Superior International Junior Hockey League (SIJHL) standings with the Bombers (8 points) heading into October and have outscored their opponents 17-5
The team features three players from Kenora. Along with Greer and Peters, forward Nickolas Fagnilli was picked up from the Fighting Walleye in an earlier September deal in exchange for a player development fee (PDF).
The Kenora Islanders Junior ‘A’ franchise suspended operations in late January, citing ongoing conflicts with the league’s board of governors.
The team noted that “the decision was not made lightly, but it is necessary to work through league issues to find a buyer for the team.”
Peters feels it’s surprising that there have been issues getting the Islanders off the ground, adding “It’s one of the nicer places you can [play, with a] nice facility rate and all that. I think that a good ownership group will eventually get things going there soon.”
The two-year franchise had just four wins in 99 regular season games before pulling the plug. They were also swept in four games in their lone playoff appearance in the Spring of 2024.
Greer said there are challenges in Kenora, noting “we don’t keep the ice in in the summer, so it’s not really surprising that we can’t keep a junior team.”
Whether kids go west or east to play junior hockey, Greer says “I think the end goal is to play in the Manitoba [Junior Hockey] League. That said, [the Superior International Junior Hockey League] doesn’t get enough credit, and there’s a lot of good players in this league.”
UPCOMING GAME SCHEDULE
Friday October 3 vs. Thunder Bay North Stars Tuesday October 7 @ Kam River Fighting Walleye Friday October 10 @ Dryden GM Ice Dogs Saturday October 11 vs. Dryden GM Ice Dogs Friday October 24 vs. Sioux Lookout Bombers Saturday October 25 vs. Sioux Lookout Bombers Friday October 31 @ Dryden GM Ice Dogs
Head Coach/General Manager Billy Keane has had a tough start to his time behind the Miners bench. They dropped all four of their contests in September while being outscored 26-6. Reid White leads all Miners skaters with a pair of goals.
UPCOMING GAME SCHEDULE
Friday October 3 vs. Kam River Fighting Walleye Saturday October 4 vs. Kam River Fighting Walleye Tuesday October 7 vs. Sioux Lookout Bombers Friday October 10 @ Ironwood Lumberjacks Saturday October 11 @ Ironwood Lumberjacks Friday October 17 @ Thunder Bay North Stars Saturday October 18 @ Thunder Bay North Stars Friday October 24 @ Kam River Fighting Walleye Saturday October 25 @ Kam River Fighting Walleye Wednesday October 29 vs. Ironwood Lumberjacks Thursday October 30 vs. Ironwood Lumberjacks
SIOUX LOOKOUT BOMBERS
Four wins in five games to begin the campaign for the Bombers, with their lone defeat coming on September 20th against the Fighting Walleye.
The team is averaging just over seven goals a game during their current four-game winning streak.
Cedric Robidoux was recognized as the Star Forward for Week 2 with goals in all three of the Bombers victories September 26-28. Teammate Ty Love had eight points in the three outings.
Beau Bannerman’s efforts earned him a Star Defenceman honourable mention while Nick Webb nabbed Star Goalie honours by allowing just a single goal on 33 shots against the Red Lake Miners on Sunday, September 28th.
UPCOMING GAME SCHEDULE
Friday October 3 @ Dryden GM Ice Dogs Saturday October 4 @ Dryden GM Ice Dogs Tuesday October 7 @ Red Lake Miners Friday October 17 vs. Ironwood Lumberjacks Saturday October 18 vs. Ironwood Lumberjacks Tuesday October 21 vs. Dryden GM Ice Dogs Friday October 24 @ Fort Frances Lakers Saturday October 25 @ Fort Frances Lakers Friday October 31 vs. Thunder Bay North Stars
DRYDEN GM ICE DOGS
The Ice Dogs split their first four games of the season, which included a 9-6 loss to the Thunder Bay North Stars on September 26th.
To begin the season they have both scored and surrendered 17 goals.
UPCOMING GAME SCHEDULE
Friday October 3 vs. Sioux Lookout Bombers Saturday October 4 vs. Sioux Lookout Bombers Friday October 10 vs. Fort Frances Lakers Saturday October 11 @ Fort Frances Lakers Friday October 17 vs. Kam River Fighting Walleye Saturday October 18 vs. Kam River Fighting Walleye Tuesday October 21 @ Sioux Lookout Bombers Friday October 24 @ Ironwood Lumberjacks Saturday October 25 @ Ironwood Lumberjacks Friday October 31 vs. Fort Frances Lakers
Both the Dryden GM Ice Dogs and the Sioux Lookout Bombers play their home openers tonight.
The Ice Dogs host the Thunder Bay North Stars tonight and tomorrow night at the Dog Pound.
The Bombers take on the Ironwood Lumberjacks both tonight and tomorrow night, and the Red Lake Miners Sunday night.
One other game tonight has the Miners at the Fort Frances Lakers.
All three high school football teams from northwestern Ontario are in action this afternoon.
Both the Dryden Eagles and the Beaver Brae Broncos from Kenora are at home.
The Eagles face the Churchill Bulldogs, while the Broncos, still seeking their first win of the season, kick off against the St. John’s Tigers, who are also winless.
The Fort Frances Muskies hit the road for the first time as the visit the St. Norbert Celtics.
The high school boys’ volleyball season is underway.
St. Thomas Aquinas and Beaver Brae High Schools are playing host the Kenora Invitational Tournament today and tomorrow.
The Saints play their first game against the Dryden Eagles at 1:45.
The first weekend of the Superior International Hockey League is in the books.
The Dryden GM Ice Dogs completed play with a 6-3 win over the Red Lake Miners Sunday night in the Miners home opener.
The night before, the Ice Dogs dropped a 2-1 decision to the Fort Frances Lakers in a shootout.
The Lakers went 2-0 on the weekend with a 7-1-win Friday night over the Miners.
The other score from Sunday was a 4-1 win by the Sioux Lookout Bombers over the Kam River Fighting Walleye.
The Walleye turned the tables on Saturday with a 3-1 win over the Bombers.
The Thunder Bay North Stars also split their games over the weekend with the Ironwood Lumberjacks, winning 6-2 Saturday night, but losing 4-1 on Friday night.
The Fort Frances Muskies captured the 76th Homecoming football game with a 61 – 21 victory over Kenora’s Beaver Brae Broncos on Friday.
It was the Muskies’ 3rd straight win at home to start the season.
The Black and Gold will finish the regular season in the Winnipeg High School football league with 4 road games.
The Broncos opened the scoring with a long drive to take a 7-0 lead early in the game.
The Muskies tied the score late in the first quarter, aided by a one-handed catch by receiver Malachi Barkley on a 60-yard pass from quarterback Milo Stafford.
Running back Parker Sisco capped off the drive with a short touchdown run.
The Muskies exploded with 31 points in the second quarter.
Barkley put the Muskies ahead on a 57-yard punt return for a touchdown.
The Muskies later pinned the Broncos deep in their own end, forcing a safety.
The Muskies increased their lead to 23-7 when Stafford hit slotback Chase Whitecrow from 30 yards out.
Trent Friesen, who was successful in converting all of the Muskie touchdowns, booted the ensuing kickoff into Beaver Brae’s end zone to make it 24 – 7.
Fullback Landon Johnson later sprinted in from 20 yards to extend the Muskies’ lead to 31-7.
Beave Brae responded with a long scoring drive in the final minute of the half, only to be matched by the Muskies when Stafford scored from 5 yards out as time expired, extending their lead to 38-14 at halftime.
Kenora scored its final touchdown on the opening possession of the third quarter.
The Broncos conceded another safety before the Muskies put the game well out of reach with touchdowns by Stafford and Ben Boettcher on quarter sneak plays and Landon Medwechuck on a 25-yard run.
The Muskies travel to Winnipeg for their next game at the North Winnipeg Nomads Field on Friday, September 26th, to face the St. Norbert Celtics.
The Celtics are coached by former standout Muskie player Adrian Huntley.
The Fort Frances Lakers kicked off the SIJHL regular season Friday night with a convincing 7-1 win over the Red Lake Miners. The Lakers got goals from seven different skaters while Brady Cates stopped 25 shots in net for the win. Austin Cooper with a goal and an assist was named the games first star. In the only other game last night the Thunder Bay North Stars dropped a 4-1 decision to the Ironwood Lumberjacks.
The Lakers will face a tougher test tonight when they host the Dryden GM Ice Dogs at 7:15p.m.
Ice Dogs Preview
The Dryden GM Ice Dogs were a shot away from forcing Game Seven in the Bill Salonen Cup Finals against the Kam River Fighting Walleye.
Head Coach and General Manager Jake Gushue looks at the setback last season as positive and negative.
“We were really happy with all the success that we had last season. We had a really good year and a lot of fun,” Gushue noted. “But obviously, there’s a sour taste in our mouth, right? We were right there; it was a really close series. Our goal is to get back to the finals and we have the belief that we’re going to do that this year and not miss this time around.”
The season came to an end in Oliver Paipoonge on April 29th when Fighting Walleye forward Jett Mintenko wrapped up the league championship in overtime in Game Six.
Seven players from last year’s squad graduated while the returnees include Forwards Elias Eisenbarth, Payton Hu, Kelby Diehl and Griffin McGraw along with Defencemen Carter Goreniuk, Tegan Kerr, Reidar Paquette and Nicholas McCallen.
Gushue’s message to his returnees is bigger and better than last year.
“The guys have put in a ton of work in the off season. That sour taste in their mouths will fuel them, especially at the start of the year where we’re going to hit the ground running,” said Gushue. “There are a lot of things that we learned from last year (the successes and failures). We’re going to be way better set up for this season, and our guys are up for the challenge.”
Some of the new guys on the Ice Dogs include 20-year-old defenceman Carter Welke from Edmonton. Fellow defenceman Jacob Bernardo from Victoria already has over 130 games in Junior ‘A’ and will be entering his 19-year-old season. The team also added Quebec born forward Adrian Mendoza.
The Superior International Junior Hockey League (SIJHL) is celebrating its 25th Anniversary in 2025-2026. Similarly, the Dryden GM Ice Dogs will commemorate their 25th year as the league’s oldest and most decorated franchise.
Gushue has worked his way up the organization and is proud to lead the Ice Dogs as Head Coach and General Manager.
“We’re hoping to show with our work ethic, and how we handle ourselves every day in the community and on the ice,” said Gushue. “It means the world to us, thinking of all of the time and support that we’ve been given from the City of Dryden. For us to be a part of the anniversary season, it’s a huge honour and privilege, and I know we’re going to live up to the expectations this year.”
“Our guys have been chomping at the bit here to begin the season. We have high expectations of the club, and I know our club’s ready for the challenge and ready to battle every single night.
The Ice Dogs have won four Bill Salonen Cup Championships, capturing their last one in 2018.
The season begins tonight in the Superior Junior Hockey League with two games.
The Red Lake Miners travel to Fort Frances to face-off against the Lakers, and the Thunder Bay North Stars are in Ironwood, Michigan to take on the Lumberjacks.
The other teams in the league start their season tomorrow night.
The Kam River Fighting Walleye, the defending league champs, host the Sioux Lookout Bombers Saturday and the Dryden GM Ice Dogs meet the Lakers in Fort Frances.
The Ice Dogs and Miners round out the first weekend of action in the SIJHL with a game in Red Lake on Sunday afternoon.
The Kenora Islanders will not have a team this year, after they folded in the middle of last season.
