By Tanner Schafer
Spooner, WI – It was another hard-fought battle between 2 evenly matched teams as the Red Lake Miners edged out the Wisconsin Lumberjacks 3-2.
The first period was much different than the night before as the teams were much more mindful of the defensive side of the game, limiting chances in front of the net and having an all around good defense performance.
Lumberjack’s alternate captain Dylan Jouppi spoke to his team’s defensive performance, “We didn’t really change anything from a strategy standpoint, our guys just turned up the intensity. We were a lot more physical and worked harder in our own zone which reduced their good looks on net.”
The game opened up in the second as Jacob Lamoureux, rookie of the month in October, scored the first and last goal of the period. The Lumberjacks put in 2 of their own in between Lamoureux’s. Connor Hacker scored on a breakaway that was setup by Jouppi, and Dillon Phillips tapped in a rebound on a shot from Zach Carson.
Jouppi who had some impressive passes tonight including the assist, when asked about it said, “My patience is a part of my game I’ve always been proud of, and even though I may be too patient at times it worked out well tonight and helped create some good plays.”
As the game moved into the third halfway through the frame Lamoureux helped the Miners back onto the scoreboard with his 3rd point of the night, an assist on a shot from the point by Andrew Benedetti that made it through. Jack Osmond put the finishing touches on the game with some great saves at the end wrapping up a 3-2 win.
After the game Miners coach Kevin Walker talked about his improved defensive performance, “Jack (Osmond) was great again, but we did a better job keeping the zone clean. The Ice here in Spooner is a lot bigger than our barn and the guys did a great job adjusting to that and taking away the middle so that the shots were lower quality.”
Will Forrester made 34 saves while Jack Osmond had 38 getting the win.
The Lumberjacks next game is Wednesday at home against the Kam River Fighting Walleye.
The Miners week is not over as they play in Fort Frances on today at 3:30.