The chase for the Bill Salonen Cup begins
Six Superior International Junior Hockey League (SIJHL) teams kick off their quest for the 2026 Bill Salonen Cup this weekend.
The Fort Frances Lakers clinched the regular season crown and a bye directly to the semi-finals.
Here is a preview of the quarterfinal matchups:
DRYDEN GM ICE DOGS vs. RED LAKE MINERS
The Ice Dogs are searching for a return trip back to the Bill Salonen Cup Final after losing in six games to the Fighting Walleye in 2025.
“Everyone in the room wants to get back to the league final,” states Ice Dogs Captain Elias Eisenbarth. “Regardless of whether guys were here last year or not, there is a feeling of responsibility that we all owe it to the organization to get back and change the result.”
The franchise has won four Bill Salonen Cup Championships, capturing their last one in 2018.
The Miners finished with five wins in the regular season and were winless in eight head-to-head games with the Ice Dogs this season.
“We are a younger team with only two graduating players,” notes Miners Captain Elliot Kuprash. “The sense of drive and competitiveness from them is definitely pouring into the whole group to try and make the season go as long as possible.”
Both Captains know that getting to the semifinals won’t be easy.
““Dryden will be a tough team to compete against,” Kuprash added. “They had the top three point leaders in the regular season. We will have to respect them and do our best to limit their options throughout the series, by playing our game.”
“[Playing the Miners] will be a good test for our team,” notes Eisenbarth. We know that they’re going to be physical and try to capitalize on our mistakes. We have to come into every game focused and ready to go from the drop of the puck if we want to have success in this series.”
The Miners won the Bill Salonen Cup in 2022.
These franchises have met twice in the post-season in recent memory. The Miners have won both previous meetings (2022 semi-final, 2024 quarterfinal).
THUNDER BAY NORTH STARS vs. IRONWOOD LUMBERJACKS
The North Stars reeled off six consecutive victories to wrap up the regular season and are looking at having a long playoff run.
“From the 17-year-olds to the 20-year-olds, we all want to play meaningful hockey for as long as we can,” said North Stars Captain Easton Glousher. “Going through the grind of playoff hockey together builds a bond that lasts long after the season ends. It’s the kind of experience that brings a team closer than anything else.”
The North Stars franchise has won six championships with their last one coming in 2019.
Even though they collected seven wins against the Lumberjacks this season, Glousher stresses that they are a skilled team with strong goaltending.
“They have a good power play, work hard, and compete for the full sixty minutes,” Glousher noted. “There’s never a game where they’re just going to give up—they play until the very end every single night. If we want to win, we need to make sure we’re matching their work ethic and executing our game the right way.”
The North Stars have quarterfinal wins against the Lumberjacks in 2022 and 2024.
The Lumberjacks franchise last made it out of the first round in 2023.
KAM RIVER FIGHTING WALLEYE vs. SIOUX LOOKOUT BOMBERS
The Fighting Walleye are looking to become the first back-to-back league winners since the Dryden GM Ice Dogs in 2017/2018.
They dropped to fourth place after back-to-back regulation losses to the North Stars to conclude the regular season.
Despite the setbacks, Captain Max Wright feels the games were a good taste of what to expect in the post-season.
“I think we just need to have that mental fortitude to come out with the results that we need. This was a good test for us going into the playoffs,” Wright said after their 2-1 loss on March 13th.
The Fighting Walleye outscored the Bombers 23-17 and won six games during the regular season series.
The Bombers won their last two games of the regular season and have victories in six of ten entering the Bill Salonen Cup Playoffs.
“We were in a lot of games during the season,” said Captain Kaden Veller. “Yes, we didn’t have as many wins as we would’ve liked, but we have a lot of confidence in ourselves after having a lot of one goal games with the top teams in the league. I don’t think not having home ice will affect us.”
The Fighting Walleye have made the finals in four consecutive years, winning it all in 2023 and 2025.
“The Bombers are a hardworking team,” Wright added. “They don’t give up. They’re physical, but it’s nothing we haven’t seen before. I’m confident in the group of men we have in that room that we can go to the distance.”
The Bombers won the Bill Salonen Cup in 2024, which was their second year as a franchise.
“Kam River is definitely more of a skilled team. I think if we play are structured and physical game, I’m confident that we will be able to shut them down,” Veller stated.
These franchises went toe to toe in the 2024 league championship with the Bombers sweeping the Fighting Walleye in four games.
The lowest remaining seed following the quarterfinals will play the Lakers in the semifinals.
QUARTERFINAL SCHEDULE
Friday March 20th
Lumberjacks @ North Stars
Bombers @ Fighting Walleye
Saturday March 21st
Lumberjacks @ North Stars
Bombers @ Fighting Walleye
Sunday March 22nd
Miners @ Ice Dogs
Monday March 23rd
Miners @ Ice Dogs
Fighting Walleye @ Bombers
Tuesday March 24th
Fighting Walleye @ Bombers
Wednesday March 25th
North Stars @ Lumberjacks
Ice Dogs @ Miners
Thursday March 26th
North Stars @ Lumberjacks
Ice Dogs @ Miners
BELOW GAMES ARE IF NECESSARY
Friday March 27th
Bombers @ Fighting Walleye
Saturday March 28th
Lumberjacks @ North Stars
Sunday March 29th
Fighting Walleye @ Bombers
Miners @ Ice Dogs
Monday March 30th
North Stars @ Lumberjacks
Tuesday March 31st
Bombers @ Fighting Walleye
Ice Dogs @ Miners
Wednesday April 1st
Lumberjacks @ North Stars
Thursday April 2nd
Miners @ Ice Dogs
