DRYDEN – At least for now, the Dryden Ice Dogs are the team to beat in the Superior International Junior Hockey League.
The Ice Dogs, playing on home ice, staked the visiting Kam River Fighting Walleye to a 3-2 lead with five minutes to go in the second.
But by the time the middle frame came to an end, Dryden was up 5-3.
Eli Antoine, McLaren Paulsen and Jordan Wales scored goals in a 3:32 span in the second period on Saturday and went on to down the Fighting Walleye 7-4, snapping their five-game winning streak.
Paulsen, who scored twice in the opening period, finished with a hat trick, giving him 19 goals on the season.
Eli Antoine had a goal and two helpers for the Ice Dogs, who lead the Sioux Lookout Bombers by seven points, sitting at 16-2-1 through 19 games.
Jett Mintenko, Tie Schumacher and Daxton Lang with a pair had the Kam River tallies.
Brandon Gustafson and Carson Devine scored for Dryden.
Sioux Lookout 6, Kenora 1: The Bombers continued their chase of first-place Kam River, downing the second-year Islanders. Tait Howell had a pair of goals and Alex Lucas put up a goal and three assists to help deliver the result.
Red Lake 5, Fort Frances 2: Bradyn Rowsell and Flynn Maxcy scored twice apiece to earn the Miners the victory. Carter Deschamps and Jack Wood had the Lakers goals.
