Friday, September 19, 2025 – Flin Flon, MB
The La Ronge Ice Wolves opened the 2025–26 SJHL season on the road Friday night, falling 9–4 to the Flin Flon Bombers at the Whitney Forum.
The Bombers got off to a fast start, scoring twice in the opening three minutes to take a 2–0 lead. Rookie Alexander Raskin answered for the Wolves at 3:32, burying his first SJHL goal with an assist from Waylon Gardipy to cut the deficit in half. Flin Flon made it 3–1 shortly after, but Connor Hoemsen responded at 10:30 with his first of the season to bring La Ronge back within one. The Bombers struck again late in the frame, holding a 4–2 advantage after 20 minutes.
In the second, Flin Flon extended their lead to 5–2, but the Ice Wolves pushed back. Dawson Butler scored at 7:09, assisted by Dayton Tailfeathers, to make it 5–3. The Bombers added two more before the end of the period, sending La Ronge into the third trailing 7–3.
The Wolves came out strong in the final frame, and it was Butler again, notching his second of the night at 1:22 with another setup from Tailfeathers, closing the gap to 7–4. Flin Flon, however, added two more to seal the 9–4 final.
Goaltender Graham Brown was tested all evening, finishing with 43 saves on 52 shots in a full 60-minute effort. The Ice Wolves generated 25 shots of their own but couldn’t capitalize on five power play opportunities, while the Bombers went 2-for-4 with the man advantage.
The Ice Wolves will be back in action Saturday night when they host the Bombers in their Home Opener at the JRMCC. Game time is 7:30pm.
Photo credit: @kelly_kocur_jacobson
