RED LAKE, Ont. – A Morgan Venne marker four and a half minutes into the third period proved to the game-winner as the Red Lake Miners went on to defeat the Fort Frances Lakers 5-3 in Superior International Junior Hockey League action Tuesday evening at Cochenour Arena.
Red Lake was quick to greet recently acquired Fort Frances netminder Dean Buchholz as Shaye Summerfeld stuffed in the night’s opening tally from the right of the crease on the first shift of the game.
The Miners then went up by a pair as Sean Gula buried his third of the season at 6:39.
Countering, Fort Frances got going offensively near the 15-minute mark of the first period when Nakoda Thunderchief put the guests on the board.
The Lakers then drew level with 10 seconds left in the session when Stone Stelzl intercepted a clearing attempt and slid a shot under Red Lake starter Zach Willms from the high slot.
Each side would tally one in the second stanza with Matthieu Harrold connecting for the visitors while Noah Kwasny countered for the home side.
In the third, the Miners got the go ahead marker off the stick of Morgan Venne as he snapped in his 12th from the right side at 4:25.
They then added some insurance eight and a half minutes later with Ryan Howe finishing off a two-on-one with William Walsh to round out the night’s scoring.
Shots on goal finished up 37-25 in favour of Red Lake with Willms picking up the win and Buchholz the defeat.
The result sees the Miners improve 14-8-2-1 on the year while the Lakers slipped to 11-12-1-0.
Photo credit: Patrick Boucha