Courtesy of: Kerri-Ann Kanceruk
It was family night at the Dryden Memorial Arena Saturday but there was no family love on the ice between Dryden GM and Kam River in only their second meeting in franchise history.
The Ice Dogs welcomed family members of all players from across Canada and the United States and honoured them and billet families before the game.
Once the puck dropped and after a slow start both teams traded huge hits, big chances and went back and forth in a very spirited opener.
Dryden GM had the best opportunities of the opening frame but Max Rath and Rylen Kleist both hit post.
Eric Vanska mopped those chances up with some timely saves after a brilliant performance Friday and finished with 8 stops.
On the other end of the ice, Ryley Gross from the Village of Hazenmore, Saskatchewan, playing his first game as an Ice Dog was just as spectacular in his SIJHL debut making 14 saves.
The second period started with the same intensity, but Dryden GM’s offence started to find its groove.
Four minutes and thirteen seconds into the period Rachonne Henry forced his way through the middle of the Fighting Walleye zone drawing three opposition players to him.
After a tip pass from Bryce Benfield, Brady Frattinger slid one through the pads of Vanska to open the scoring.
That was the first of the season for the product of Elkhorn, Manitoba.
One minute and eleven seconds after that a defensive miscue by Bradley Fortier allowed Lang Lee to walk in unimpeded and he put a hard shot over the glove of Vanska for his first goal of the year.
However, Kam River bounced right back and at 6:23 and with the Fighting Walleye on a powerplay Zach Fortin blasted it through Gross to make it 2-1.
That was Fortin’s first of the year and he was set up by Jonah DesRosiers.
The Ice Dogs got a man advantage right back later in the period and Noah Schindel, charging the net, picked it up close to the top of the crease and cashed in on a rebound from a Rylen Kleist shot to make it 3-1.
Ian Kimble also earned a helper on the play.
Shots in the second period were 20-10 in favour of Dryden GM.
The Ice Dogs didn’t let up in the third and at 4:34 Derek Koivisto picked up a loose puck and found the back of the net with his 4th of the season.
Tristan Takats and Maxime Collette assisted.
Kam River refused to throw in the towel and at 11:02 Colton Crysler recorded his first goal with Trenton Morriseau and Carson Gorst picking up helpers on a powerplay.
Tristan Takats would ice things with his first of the season late with a goal on the man advantage.
Final shots in the game were 43-32 in favour of the Ice Dogs.
Dryden GM was 2/9 on the powerplay, while the Fighting Walleye went 2/8.
Kam River won the opener on Friday 5-2.
Alex Enegren led the way with a goal and two assists, while Braeden Duchesne, Jonah DesRosiers, Ethan Lang and Trenton Morriseau adding singles.
Maxime Collette and Bryce Benefield responded for the Ice Dogs.
3 Stars
1. Tristan Takats (Dryden GM Ice Dogs) 1 goal and 1 assist
2. Rylen Kleist (Dryden GM Ice Dogs) 1 assist
3. Brady Frattinger (Dryden GM Ice Dogs) 1 goal
Next Up:
Dryden GM Ice Dogs (4-3-1) at Fort Frances Lakers (0-6) Wednesday, October 20
Kam River Fighting Walleye (2-2-1) vs. Wisconsin Lumberjacks (3-4-1) Friday, October 22
(Photo Credit: Kerri-Ann Kanceruk)
