RED LAKE, Ont. – Shaye Sommerfeld scored three times and dished out two assists to help the Red Lake Miners outlast the Fort Frances Lakers 7-6 Wednesday evening in a Superior International Junior Hockey League preseason encounter at Cochenour Arena.
Red Lake started strong, skating to a 2-0 lead early on, with a Sean Gula power play marker, as well as an even strength effort from Sommerfeld.
Fort Frances answered back with two tallies of their own before the first period was complete thanks to goals from Noah Loveday and Draveen Dhaliwal.
The Miners then went in front 4-3 after 40 minutes, sandwiching markers from Ryan Howe and Ethan Stuckless, around one courtesy of the Lakers’ Brendan Albert.
Each team was not finished offensively in the final frame as they tacked on three more apiece to finish off the high-scoring affair.
Leighton Holstein put the home side up by two with an early man advantage effort before Ethan Carlson-Jourdain countered for the visitors at 3:40.
Sommerfeld and Dryden Valade for the guests then traded goals later in the frame with Red Lake continuing to hold a narrow cushion.
However, Sommerfeld finished off his hat trick while Tysne Stanski, on the power play for Fort Frances, capped off the night’s scoring.
Howe also had a big performance for the Miners with a goal and four assists to his credit.
Red Lake also had the edge in shots by a 34-31 count with Zach Willms picking up the win while Jared Cable suffered the setback.
The two sides will meet again Friday in a 7 p.m. start at Ice for Kids Arena in Fort Frances.
That game can be viewed online at HockeyTV.com.
Photo credit: Patrick Boucha