By James Brohm
Sioux Lookout, ON – The Bombers held a special night for Mental Health Awareness at the Hangar. Along with the Sioux Lookout First Nations Health Authority and Rotary Club of Sioux Lookout, they presented a cheque to the Sioux Lookout Meno Ya Win Health Centre Foundation for $4000 to support local mental health programs. The Hangar was at near capacity with 559 fans in attendance.
It was a very different game than Friday night’s matchup, but the result was the same. The first period was back and forth but the ice was tilted slightly towards the Miners end. Both teams picked up right where they left of the previous night. The Bombers and Miners both electing to switch up the goaltenders, Noah Davis got the nod for the Miners and Matthew Spencer-Dahl was in for the Bombers. Both were perfect through the scoreless first period.
The games first goal didn’t come until the 4:51 mark of the middle stanza. The Miners took advantage of a give away right in the slot in front of Spencer-Dahl. After a mad scramble, Ethan Cerone whiffed on a one-timer in between the hashmarks but it fooled the Bombers’ netminder and slid through the five hole to put the visiting team up by one. The Bombers were down by two players in the middle of the frame but the Miners were unable to capitalize on a lengthy 5 on 3. Solid defence on the penalty kill and a couple of great backchecking plays by Kaden Veller towards the end of period kept the Miners to a one goal advantage going into the second intermission.
The third period belonged to Bombers. Just 23 seconds in, Trevor Sanderson tucked in a loose puck at the side of the Miners’ goal to tie up the game. Then at 8:51, Connor Burke scored a goal that has to be in contention for “Goal of the Year.” Coming in two-on-two with Dale Horseman III, he absolutely undressed Miners’ defenceman Jared Burnett and once around him, beat Davis on the blocker side for the go ahead goal. Spencer-Dahl shut the door for the Bombers and they held on for a 2-1 victory.
Davis made 36 saves for the Miners and Spencer-Dahl made 32 stops. It was a relatively disciplined game for both teams. The Bombers had four power play opportunities including the lengthy 5-on-3 in the second period and the Miners had only one power play. Neither team was able to score with the man-advantage. The games’ goal scorers were named three stars. Ethan Cerone was third with the opening tally. Cobe Delaney picked up second star for the tying goal and Connor Burke’s highlight reel goal earned him first star honours.
Next up, the Miners will host the Islanders on Tuesday, February 6th. The Bombers travel to Dryden on Friday, February 9th for the final instalment of the “Battle of 72” for the regular season.