SUPERIOR INTERNATIONAL JUNIOR HOCKEY LEAGUE
SIJHL COMMUNICATIONS
MEDIA RELEASE
Release Date: Thursday, Sept. 19, 2013
Team preview: Dryden Ice Dogs
THUNDER BAY – When it comes to the Superior International Junior Hockey League, no team in more synonymous with it than the Dryden Ice Dogs.
An original member of the SIJHL since the league’s first season, the Ice Dogs are back for their 13th year of Jr. A hockey.
They will take to the ice in their home opener Friday night as they host the first-year English River Miners in a 7:30 p.m. start at Memorial Arena.
Under head coach Paul Maclean, Dryden is coming off a third place finish in 2012-13 ending up with a 28-25-0-2 record before falling in a hard-fought seven-game semifinal playoff series against the rival Fort Frances Lakers last season.
Offensively the club should have plenty of firepower as among the key returnees are their top two scorers from a year ago.
Forward Chris Belhumeur was go-to guy for the squad leading the way in points with 66, including netting a team-high 33 goals.
His efforts allowed him to finish fourth in league scoring while also finishing fourth overall in tallies and sixth in the SIJHL in assists with 33.
Tyson Holder is also back for the Ice Dogs as he looks to build off a 2012-13 campaign that saw him finish second on the squad in points.
He was also ninth in total offensive production across the league registering 25 markers along with 29 helpers to reach the 54-point plateau.
Dryden general manager and director of hockey operations Brad Boyko is hopeful the duo can, at the very least, repeat their performances from last season.
“We are hoping that these two players can repeat or better their numbers from last season,” offered Boyko.
Also back donning the white, red and blue Ice Dogs jersey is second-year man Rory Court.
“Rory was a key face-off man and penalty killer for us and also scored some key goals for us,” added the Dryden GM when discussing Court’s 11-goal, 21-assist performance in his rookie campaign.
Among the newcomers to the line-up is forward Dane Feeney.
He hails from Campbell River, B.C. and played junior for the Victoria Cougars where he led his team and his league in points.
Also joining the squad in Zachary Kercz, who hails from Aurora, Ont.
“Zach played for the Toronto Red Wings AAA program and is a very quick and offensive forward,” stated Boyko.
Another player to watch will be towering forward Jonah Coonishish-Coone, who is expected to add a big presence on the ice with his six-foot-four-inch, 220-pound frame.
“Jonah comes from Quebec and has had some major junior experience with Lewiston MAINEiacs of the QMJHL and will provide added size up front,” commented Boyko.
Among the key games on the Ice Dogs schedule this season is their annual Cancer Awareness night, which goes Oct. 5 vs. English River.
In that contest the team will wear special game jerseys, which can be purchased with all the proceeds from those sales going to the Oncology Unit at Dryden Regional Health Centre.