By Tanner Schafer
Spooner, WI – The home winning streak in this 1st round playoff series continued Sunday night with the Lumberjacks taking game 6 to even the series at 3 all.
Motivated by the threat of elimination the Lumberjacks got off to a quick start thanks to Cooper McClure. The standout ‘04 found the back of the net just 5 minutes into the game giving Wisconsin a 1-0 lead. The Jacks would strike again with less than 5 minutes remaining as McClure found the back of the net a 2nd time. Assists on the goals went to Connor McClure(2), Salvatore Poggiali and Ryan Kayser. Shots were even at 12 for both teams but Wisconsin would carry the 2-0 lead into the 2nd period.
The next period was all Bombers as they made a push to win the series. Outshooting the Lumberjacks 15-4 they would find 2 goals to level the game. Connor Burke scored the first for Sioux Lookout just after the halfway point to cut the deficit in half. Tyler Decoff and Blake Burke picked up assists on the power play goal. A few minutes later a 2nd power play goal was scored, this one coming from Blake Burke. Connor Burke and Nathan Dann would secure the assists and the game headed to the final period tied at 2. It was a hectic first half of the period with 3 goals scored. The Lumberjacks scored first off a Dylan Jouppi deflection in front of the net on the power play reclaiming the lead 3-2. The Bombers would answer back a minute and a half later as Blake Burke scored his 2nd of the game with the lone assist going to Aidan Milburn. TO finish the scoring flourish 2 minutes later Cooper McClure would score an unassisted goal to secure the hat trick and the win. Sioux Lookout would make a late push but Simon Davidson secured an empty net goal and the Jacks were victorious 5-3.
Kyler Lowden picked up the win stopping 34 of 37. Jake Manners allowed 4 goals on 30 shots in a losing effort. Cooper McClure was the game’s 1st star with a hat trick, Ryan Kayser’s 2 assists were good enough for 2nd star, and Lowden was the 3rd star.
The series will conclude on Wednesday with game 7 at the Hanger in Sioux Lookout. Puck drop is 7:30 CST on SIJHLTV.