By James Brohm
Sioux Lookout, ON – The Sioux Lookout Bombers were showing no signs of fatigue on the ice for their third game in three nights. Fans showing no signs either as 491 Bombers faithful packed the stands of the Hangar.
It took less than 90 seconds for the Bombers to jump out to an early lead. The red hot line of Owen Riffel and the Burke twins was at it once again. This time Connor Burke was on the doorstep for a rebound off Riffel’s shot and buried into a yawning cage behind Wisconsin netminder, Rylan Freshwater. At 4:43, Connor Burke returned the favour and set up Owen Riffel for a tap-in with a pass from behind the Lumberjacks net. The Lumberjacks were back in the game at 9:52 with a goal by Maddox Achtor. William McDonnel made a far-pad pass off of Bombers’ goalie Matthew Ofukany for an easy tap-in from the slot. Shots in the period with 15 for the Bombers and 11 for the Lumberjacks.
The Lumberjacks evened the score at two with a goal by William McDonnel. Ryan Kayser took a shot from the left point that deflected up onto the glass behind the Bombers net. McDonnel redirected the puck into the net baseball-style for his first of the season. Cedrik Robidoux restored the Bombers lead, picking up a rebound from a Jonah Smith shot and sending it through the legs of a Wisconsin defender. Freshwater didn’t see the puck until it was behind him. Kaden Veller added another goal for the Bombers before the period came to a close. He batted down a puck in the neutral zone and skated down the right side of the ice. A shot fake just inside the blue line froze the defenceman and goaltender and then a quick wrister beat Freshwater just over the pad, off the far post and in. The Bombers held a 4-2 lead after 40 minutes.
The third period was all Bombers. Christian Shields got his first of the season on a point shot at 6:59. Newly-acquired, Trever Sanderson picked up his first as a Bomber at 8:28. Connor Burke got his second of the night at 9:32. This goal would bring about a goalie change for the Lumberjacks as Jakob Barcelona would take over in relief. And finally, Dayvan Bull put the icing on the cake at 19:23 with his fifth of the season.
All tolled, the Bombers out scored the Lumberjacks 14-3 on the weekend and picked up a very valuable six points. The third star was given to Owen Cotter. Matthew Ofukany was second star, picking up his third win of the season to remain perfect when starting. Connor Burke’s 2 goal night earned him first star honours.
The Lumberjacks are off for the rest of November. They will host the Ice Dogs on December 1-3. The Bombers will play a game Tuesday night in Cochenour against the Red Lake Miners.