Lucas is the Sports Reporter for Fort Frances.
1. Dryden Ice Dogs (3-0-0-0 - 6 Points)
After an off-season that saw five head coaching changes, two teams change names, and the defending league champions moving to a different state, it’s been great to actually get back into the on-ice action in the SIJHL.
With a week of regular season play now officially in the record books, here’s a quick look at has transpired up to this point with all seven teams in the league.
With almost everyone coming back from last year’s semi-final squad, the Ice Dogs have quickly jumped out as one of the teams to beat in the SIJHL at this early stage, especially with a 5-2 win over the defending champion Minnesota Wilderness at home on Sunday.
While returning forwards Jesse Linner (2-4-6) and Chris Belhumer (3-3-6) have been key contributors for the Ice Dogs thus far, one of the top performers has been newly acquired forward Tyler Walsh.
The 20-year-old from Mississauga, who spent time in Huntsville, Kingston, Woodstock and Truro last season, has three goals and four assists in three games this season, and was given the league’s first player of the week accolade of the campaign.
2. Thunder Bay North Stars (3-0-0-0 - 6 Points)
Heading into the season, no one had a clue who the North Stars’ head coach was actually going to be, as team owner Doug Gunsinger decided not to unveil the bench boss until their home opener on Tuesday night against Sioux Lookout, with Ear Falls mayor and long-time hockey man Kevin Kahoot taking the role behind the bench.
With that mystery now solved, the focus can actually turn to the play of the North Stars, who have scored the most amount of goals (20) and allowed the least amount (five) for any team that has played more than one game.
On offence, returning forward Matt Kaarela has been a force with five goals thus far, while goaltender Jayme Brattengeier (who was acquired from Sioux Lookout in the summer) has been red-hot with a 1.67 GAA and three straight wins.
3. Minnesota Wilderness (2-1-0-0 - 4 Points)
The winners of the last two Bill Salonen Cups, the Wilderness moved from Spooner, Wi. to Cloquet, Mn. during the off-season due to the impending sale and possible closure of their arena, leading to an obvious name change for the club.
As was the case last year, the majority of the players from the defending champions have moved on from the junior ranks (although 36-point forward Shane Topf moved on to Hawkesbury of the CCHL), leaving many holes to be filled.
But once again, the Wilderness have come out flying offensively, especially with returning 69-point man Mike Dietrich, who has seven points in three games.
4. Minnesota Iron Rangers (2-2-0-0 - 4 Points)
After struggling to just nine wins a year ago as the Iron Range Ironheads, the new look Iron Rangers seem to be much improved already, with two wins already under their belts.
With former Madison Capitols bench boss Chris Walby now leading the way in the coaching and general management department, the Iron Rangers have brought in a number of players from the Capitols system along with a few players from the Minnesota and Wisconsin high school ranks.
But at this point, former Chicago Hitmen forward Joey Haydock has been the player to watch as he’s scored three goals and picked up an assist to lead the way on offence, with former Chicago Fury forward Jonathon Losurdo potting two goals to help the squad out.
5. Duluth Clydesdales (0-2-0-1 - 1 Point)
Having lost three games already, the Clydesdales have a very tough road ahead of them over the next two weekends, as they will be taking on the Minnesota Wilderness on three straight occasions.
Although that task does look daunting, Duluth might have found a new marksman on their squad to replace Hunter Scott and Cody Stettin, who both left the team after last season.
The man is Anchorage, Ak. native Darrick Howard, who after putting up 33 points for Duluth Marshall last season, already has three goals and an assist to his name in his rookie SIJHL campaign.
6. Fort Frances Lakers (0-1-0-0 - 0 Points)
After falling a game short of winning the SIJHL crown, the Lakers lost a number of key contributors during the off-season, with the two most notable being league MVP Byron Katapaytuk (who is now playing for Nipissing University after completing his junior career) and rookie of the year Jordan Larson (who was traded to Pembroke in the CCHL).
However, the Lakers are returning some talented players from last year’s team (most notably forwards Jordan Christianson, Merritt Rysavy, Davis Smith and Colton Spicer, defender Jon Carlson, and goaltender Tanner Hamilton), in addition to a few newcomers from the Minnesota high school ranks.
One new face that you may want to keep an eye on is 18-year-old forward Kevin Kurm out of Thunder Bay. After putting up 45 points for the Fort William Hurricanes last season, Kurm impressed many with his speed and skill during the Lakers’ prospect camp in July and the main camp in August, and already has a goal to his name in their season opening loss to the Iron Rangers
7. Sioux Lookout Flyers (0-3-0-0 - 0 Points)
Even though the season is only a week old, the situation involving the Flyers right now is getting quite messy.
After dropping a 8-2 decision to the Thunder Bay North Stars on Tuesday, it was announced by the league on Wednesday that the rematch between both sides was cancelled due to the Flyers being unable to field a full squad due to a number of factors, such as injuries and player suspensions.
Then on Thursday afternoon, it was announced that a pair of games against the Minnesota Iron Rangers scheduled for this weekend had been postponed, but that the Flyers would be back in action on Friday, Oct. 12 when they host the Minnesota Wilderness.
While it remains to be seen what happens going forward, this is not a good sign for a club that nearly bit the dust in the summer of 2011 due to concerns with finances.
Big Thanks to Lucas for the Write-up!
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