By Brett Richter:
The season of the ever-changing schedule once again reared its ugly head. The visiting Bombers traveled to Ironwood for a two game weekend series. Before either team could even get in their morning skate the ice plant at the hometown rink began having issues causing Friday’s game to be postponed. With a little luck and some hard work by the rink staff, the ice plant was brought back online for Saturday’s SIJHL matchup, and the Lumberjacks were anxious to play the home game.
After a passion filled, strong, and pointed pre-game message, Head Coach Doug Lien brought the Lumberjacks to the ice surface in front of a hardy local crowd. With temperatures reaching -25 degrees outside, the Lumberjacks began the opening period with heated intensity. During the first 15 minutes of the period, the Lumberjacks killed off two separate penalties with the second kill leading to some much needed momentum. Sensing the surge, Ironwood center Jack Hanna scored two goals in less than 80 seconds to give the Jacks a quick two-goal lead. Hanna’s first goal was shared with assists from Felix St-Onge and Bennet Arro; the second by Tyki Babcock. The momentum continued to rise when Brendan Klotz took a touch pass from Tim Hanulik and, in turn, dropped it on the tape of a streaking Owen DeBrody. DeBrody tipped the puck into the net for his second goal as a Lumberjack giving the team a 3-0 lead.
Although the conversation in the locker room revolved around maintaining intensity and not letting up, the Jacks took the ice and allowed the visitors to tilt the ice in their favor. With a strong forecheck and offensive zone play, the visiting Bombers put up two goals in just over 13 minutes tightening the scoreboard to 3-2. Coach Lein, more vocal than in recent games, shared his displeasure with the team during a media time out. The Lumberjacks got the message. At the 18-minute mark, the Lumberjack’s newest roster addition #10 Andrew Brubakken got his first goal of the season with assists credited to Jack Carruthers and Felix St-Onge. The second period ended with the Lumberjacks leading 4-2.
During the third period intermission, the question heard around the Pat O’Donnell Civic Center was, “Can the Lumberjacks play with the lead.” In his own way, Coach Lein laid out a plan for the team in the locker room which would lead them to a much-needed win. But the Bombers had other plans. A combination of aggressive play, a lucky bounce, and a missed defensive assignment allowed the Bombers to tally three goals and take a 4-5 lead with less than five minutes left in the game. Coach Lein, once again, stared in the eyes of the team and challenged them to dig deep. At the 16:29 mark, the Bombers took a penalty putting the potent Lumberjack power play on the ice. 1:20 into the power play, Brubakken took a perfect pass from DeBrody and buried his second goal of the game to tie the contest at five with just over two minutes left. Regulation play ended in a 5-5 tie.
The local fans were treated to their second overtime game in the recent past. The five-minute overtime period was evenly played with both teams getting good offensive opportunities, but both goal tenders held serve. With no goals in the five-minute OT period, the SIJHL rule book called for a shootout. The Bombers started the shootout with a loud bounce off the Ironwood pipe, but no goal. Ironwood’s Felix St-Onge took a leisurely skate down the left side wall, cut across the net and lifted a beautiful backhand to give the Jacks the early 1-0 lead in the shootout. The Bombers next player shot a high hard shot past Ironwood goalkeeper Connor Doyle tying the shootout 1-1. Both Brubakken and Tim Hanulik missed their opportunities and after three rounds, the shootout score remained 1-1. Doyle stymied the Bomber’s fourth player on his attempt and Coach Lein called for one of his trusted veterans, #25, to take the shot for the Lumberjacks. Approaching the opponent’s goal with confidence, Jack Carruthers fired a beauty past the Bomber netminder giving the Lumberjacks the game victory. It went into the books as a 6-5 shoot out win.
February finds several road games on the docket for the Lumberjacks. But before February begins, the Lumberjack have a very important home weekend contest with the Fort Frances Lakers. The puck drops at 7 pm both Friday and Saturday night, Jan 30 and 31, at the Ironwood Civic Center. See you there.