RED LAKE, Ont. – The Red Lake Miners got two goals from their captain Shaye Sommerfeld to help lead his side to a 6-2 victory over the Fort Frances Lakers in Superior International Junior Hockey League action Tuesday evening at Cochenour Arena.
With the result, the Miners move into first place overall in the SIJHL standings, two points clear of the idle Thunder Bay North Stars, who do however hold one game in hand.
After surrendering the night’s opening tally, Red Lake stormed back with four straight markers to take a 4-1 lead after one period of play.
Kyle Uzelman got Fort Frances off to a good start 5:32 into the contest with his 15th goal of the season.
However, the Miners roared back by striking four times in a four-minute span to turn things around.
After Sommerfeld tied it midway through the first, Bryce Krauter connected a couple of shifts later to put the home side in front.
Not done there, William Walsh made it 3-1 at 13:22 while Sommerfeld scored again moments after that as the hosts took a 4-1 cushion into the intermission.
Red Lake added to their lead with the lone marker of the middle stanza when Rajvir Sangha converted on a man advantage chance at 16:51.
In the third, the Miners put the game away with Krauer collecting his second of the night before Peyton Hughes added one late for the Lakers to round out the scoring.
Walsh, Spencer Milne and Ethan Stuckless each chipped in with two assists apiece to aid the offensive cause.
Red Lake netminder Zach Willms made 34 stops to register his SIJHL-leading 23rd win of the year, which is just two off the personal-best of 25 he picked up last season with the Miners.
Lakers starter Dean Buchholz meanwhile faced 35 attempts in defeat.
The two teams will finish off a home-and-home Friday in a 7:30 p.m. start at Ice for Kids Arena in Fort Frances.
Photo credit: Patrick Boucha