RED LAKE, Ont. – Spencer Milne provided a career single-game high four goals, including the game-winner, as his big night helped led the Red Lake Miners past the Fort Frances Lakers 5-4 in Superior International Junior Hockey League action Saturday at Cochenour Arena.
Down a skater early, Shaye Sommerfeld struck shorthanded for the Miners three minutes into the contest to give the home side the early lead.
Still on the power play though, Fort Frances came right back to tie it on Matthieu Harrold’s seventh since joining the club in early December.
Stone Stelzl then broke through the Red Lake defence and went in along on Zach Willms where he made a quick deke right and slid in a back hand to put the guests in front.
Reece Hopfner then stuffed one in a couple of shifts later to give the Lakers a 3-1 lead after one period of play.
There, Milne tallied twice in quick order to level the proceedings before Harrold slammed in his second of the night at 19:09 as his man advantage effort gave Fort Frances a 4-3 edge through 40 minutes.
In the third, it was more from Milne as his hat trick tally at 6:01 knotted the affair once more.
Then on a late power play, he took a Keilan Toews feed then made a quick power move on top of the crease and buried the game-winner past Lakers goalkeeper Alex Bugeja to round out the night’s scoring.
Ethan Stuckless and Caron Lux chipped in with two assists apiece in the triumph as Red Lake moved to within two points of Thunder Bay in the quest for top spot in the SIJHL standings, while also holding a game in hand.
Shots on net finished 43-35 in favour of the Miners with Willms getting the victory while Bugeja suffered the loss.
Photo credit: Patrick Boucha