Ice Wolves drop third straight

The La Ronge Ice Wolves are now on a three-game losing streak following a 5-3 setback Friday night in Melfort.

The Ice Wolves found themselves down 2-0 before the game was seven minutes old. Despite battling back from a 3-1 deficit and tying the game at three, it was the Mustangs earning their third victory of the season over the Ice Wolves.

“Obviously, it was not the start we were looking for tonight,” said Ice Wolves Asst. Coach Kyle Schneider. “I thought our guys did a great job sticking with it and battling back.”

Parker Layton, Raine Hodge and Jacob Cossette scored for La Ronge. Topher Chirico made his second straight start in the La Ronge net and turned away 35 shots in a losing cause. 

Zac Somers scored twice for the Mustangs, while Wyatt Day, Hayden Prosofsky and David Coyle also tallied. James Venne made 28 saves for the win in the Melfort crease.

With the loss, the Ice Wolves slipped to 5-12-2 on the season, which has them 11th in the SJHL standings. La Ronge will now have three days off before travelling to the SJHL Showcase Tuesday in Warman for a date with the Humboldt Broncos. 

“They (the Broncos) have some good young players and they skate well,” said Schneider. “We’re going to have to find a way to keep them to the outside.”

Following Tuesday’s action, the Ice Wolves meet the Kindersley Klippers Wednesday in Warman before hosting the Battlefords North Stars next Friday and Saturday at the Mel Hegland Uniplex.