SIJHL season kicks off, Lakers host Ice Dogs tonight
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.
