Ironwood, MI
Brett Richter
Lumberjacks Win Home Opener
Friday night’s home opener for the Ironwood Lumberjacks arrived loaded with anticipation and excitement. After a 24-25 season flooded with disappointing results, the Jacks roster came to play the first game of a grueling 48 game season. With Head Coach Doug Lein preaching a team only concept from day one of training camp, the 25-26 Lumberjacks entered the ice surface at the Pat O’Donnell Civic Center ready to show a high level of team unity.
With all of the hype, anticipation, and nerves in place, the Lumberjacks took the opening face off against the Thunder Bay North Stars, but allowed the early season jitters to take hold. The opening minutes were controlled by the visitors culminating in a goal with 5:36 gone in the game. The North Stars only goal of the game appeared to wake up the Lumberjacks bench and the momentum of the game began to neutralize.
With Thunder Bay in the penalty box for a hooking penalty, the Jacks power play unit hit the ice led by team Captain (#7) Will Porter. With some grit and determination, Porter poked in a lose puck to tie the game 1-1 at the 11:34 mark of the first. Porter’s goal was assisted by #19 Brendan Klotz and #3 Félix St-Onge. The Lumberjacks momentum was short lived when (#27) Tom Parini was penalized for contact to the head incurring a five-minute major penalty and a game misconduct. But out of adversity, the Jacks found something, killing off the entire five minutes with no goals allowed. Using the momentum from a successful penalty kill, the newest member of the roster (#22) Ryland Elsenpeter added a late, hard working, goal with only 16 seconds left in the period. (#9) Chase Krtanjek added his first assist of the night to the Elsenpeter goal. The Jacks left the first period ice up 2-1. During the first intermission, Assistant Coach Paige Moilanen said, “We started out with the jitters but seemed to catch our breath. Obviously the five minute major was a tough spot to be in during the first period but Gavin played great in goal during that stretch.”
With both teams having the initial period of the new season under their belts, the second opened with a pretty even ice surface as play flowed from end to end. At the 4:38 mark of the second, (#17) Christian Storey found a loose puck in the left high slot and took a laser guided wrist shot over the left shoulder of the North Star’s goaltender giving the Lumberjacks a 3-1 lead. With his second assist, Caruthers and (#3) Félix St-Onge added another assist on the score sheet helping on the Storey goal. The two goal differential created a sense of urgency on both sides leading to a lack of discipline. With just over half of the 20 minute period remaining, the two teams combined for a total of seven penalties putting both goaltenders to the test. The period ended in favor of the Ironwood Lumberjacks, 3-1. Assistant Coach CJ Sorenson remarked, “The defensive side of our game is really coming around. We are blocking more shots and disrupting play. We could be a little more physical in the neutral zone but I like where we are headed.”
Prior to the start of the third period, Head Coach Doug Lein told the team, “Don’t let up mentally. Play with poise. Play with control. Now go win this thing.”
The third period started with a push by the North Stars leading to another Lumberjacks penalty at the 2:37 mark. But the Lumberjacks penalty kill unit was again up to the task led by goaltender Gavin Covrig. Successfully killing off the two minute penalty, the Jacks settled into a strong defensive system and played even hockey for the next 7 minutes. At 10:17, 6’6” (#16) Colin Dorsey-Burdick made his way to the front of the net and poked a loose puck home for his first goal of the season. Once again, Krtanjek was nearby with an assist, along with (#10) Keenan Posiviata adding his first helper of the season. The Jacks led 4-1 and never looked back.
Head Coach Doug Lein summarized the game by saying, “It was good 60 minutes. That’s the consistency we need to have. The guys were adaptive and receptive to structural changes we needed to make. Guys were willing to do what the team need them to do. The lights were a little bright for some of the rookies and we faltered out of the gate. We need to start better. Tomorrow is a whole new day.”