Ice Wolves earn point in shootout
The La Ronge Ice Wolves finished the unofficial first half of the 2022-23 season with a 3-2 loss in a shootout Saturday night at home to the Flin Flon Bombers.
“That was a hell of a game to watch, that game had a playoff atmosphere,” said Ice Wolves Head Coach and GM Kevin Kaminski. “The boys competed for a solid 60 minutes.”
Dylan Handel opened the scoring 18:45 into the first period when he beat Harmon Laser-Hume on a breakaway for his 11th of the season. The Bombers tied things at one 1:09 into the second stanza after Cole Duperreault knocked home his 23rd of the campaign.
Flin Flon took its first lead of the evening 6:02 into the third frame when Jeremi Tremblay connected on the power play. The Ice Wolves pulled Dawson Smith late in the game after being awarded a power play. The decision to attack with six players worked as Kaycee Coyle tied things at two when he sent a rocket past Laser-Hume with 2:55 remaining in regulation.
Regulation and overtime solved nothing, so the Ice Wolves and Bombers needed a shootout. Cory King eventually ended things in the tenth round of the skills competition. Dawson Smith was brilliant in net once again, turning away 38 shots at the Mel Hegland Uniplex Saturday evening.
“I was letting out quite a bit of rebounds, so the boys were helping me get them out of there,” said Smith. “We just came together tonight – and it was a close one.”
With the loss, the Ice Wolves are now 21-10-3 on the season, which still has them holding down second spot in the SJHL standings.
La Ronge will get back into the swing of things Jan. 3 at home when they take on the Flin Flon Bombers.