OLIVER PAIPOONGE – The Dryden Ice Dogs scored three times in the third to break open a 2-2 and put an end to the Kam River Fighting Walleye’s eight-game winning streak.
Bryce Benfield and Eli Antoine scored 68 seconds apart to give the Ice Dogs a 4-2 lead and Max Roby added his 13th of the season into the empty net with 1:19 to go in the third to make it a 5-2 final.
Nickolas Fagnilli, who opened the scoring at 4:23 of the first, and Carter Poddubny scored for the visiting Fighting Walleye, playing in front of 649 fans at the Dryden Memorial Arena.
Sean Smith and McLaren Paulsen answered Fagnilli in the first, the 12-7-1 Ice Dogs taking a 2-1 lead after 20 minutes.
Ewan Soutar had a 30-save night for Dryden and picked up the win between the pipes, while Travis VanderZwaag allowed four goals on 30 shots for the Fighting Walleye (14-3-0_
Thunder Bay 5, Red Lake 3: E.J. Paddington scored twice and the North Stars (14-4-2) collected two points to move into sole possession of first place in the Superior International Junior Hockey League standings. Easton Mikus, Owen Doherty and Drew Caddo also scored for the North Stars, who have points in 15 straight outings. Landon van Engelen and Matthew McPherson, with 10 seconds left in the first, scored for Red Lake (9-7-1).
Fort Frances 8, Kenora 2: Pierce Gouin and Brady Krentz had two goals apiece to lead the Lakers to a second straight win over the expansion Islanders. The Islanders trailed 2-0 after one, but stormed back with a pair to open the second. Chance Traverse potted his first of the season at 5:06 of the second and Jayden McPherson-Nepinak evened things up just under five minutes later. Gunner Paradis earned the win in nets for Fort Frances, with Kaden King taking the loss for Kenora.
Sioux Lookout 8, Wisconsin 2: Connor Burke had two goals and three points to lead the Bombers to a lopsided win over the Lumberjacks.
