Sioux Lookout, ON – Fresh off a win against the Lumberjacks, the Bombers welcome the league-leading Fighting Walleye for the first of two games of a weekend series. It was a highly anticipated face off between Erik Vanska with his lead in wins, and Jake Manners and his best GAA and SV% in the SIJHL.
The Walleye and Bombers played a wide open first period. The visiting team doubled up the shot count, launching 20 pucks at Manners, while the Bombers could only muster 10 SOGs of their own. Kam River opened the scoring at 12:55. A quick shot on the power play by Kobe Braham, assisted by Ethan Lang and the second assist credited to netminder, Eric Vanska.
The middle stanza was even in shots and goals with 13 shots per team and zero goals. The Bombers did have plenty of Grade-A offensive chances on an extended power play, including 41 seconds of 5 on3.
The third period was much up the same. The Walleye controlled much of the play and the Bombers found themselves chasing the game. Ethan Lang potted a short-handed insurance goal at 7:18. The Walleye played keep-away of the rest of the game and picked up the 2-0 win.
Vanska earned his 26th win on the season and now holds the lead in shutouts with five. Despite the game outcome, Manners continues to boast the league’s best goals against and save percentage stats.
The team are back in action Saturday night to finish the weekend.
Photo Credit: Jesse Bonello/Sioux Lookout Bombers