dryden gm ice dogs
Local Sports for Monday, January 23rd
The Dryden GM Ice Dogs won a pair of games over the weekend in Fort Frances.
The Ice Dogs doubled up the Lakers 4-2 on Friday night and followed that up with a 9-3 victory on Saturday night.
James Hooton had a hat trick in that game.
He also had a goal in Friday night’s game for four goals in two games.
Elsewhere in the SIJHL, the Red Lake Miners got by the Sioux Lookout Bombers 6-3 on Friday night, but the Bombers managed to shut out the Miners Saturday night 4-0.
With their pair of wins over the weekend, the Ice Dogs clawed their way to within six points of first place in the SIJHL, while the Bombers are just two points back of Dryden for second place.
Sioux Lookout and the Ice Dogs do battle Wednesday night at the Dryden Memorial Arena.
A tough weekend for the Kenora U18 AAA Thistles.
Yesterday they were dropped 6-4 by the Southwest Cougars in Souris, Manitoba.
Emerson Evans had a pair of goals in that game, had another one Saturday night in another 6-4 loss to the Cougars.
Nick Fagnilli had a pair of games in Saturday’s game.
Remembering The Humboldt Broncos Bus Crash
April 6th, 2018, a day that changed the hockey world.
Wednesday marks the four year anniversary of a junior hockey team’s trip to a playoff game that ended in tragedy.
Sixteen members of the Humboldt Broncos of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL) were killed, thirteen injured when the northbound coach bus struck a westbound semi-trailer truck near Armley, Saskatchewan.
The semi-trailer was travelling at a speed of approximately 100 km/h.
Ten players, two coaches, a statistician, radio announcer, athletic trainer, and bus driver were killed.
Submitted photo of the tribute involving the SIJHL’s Thief River Falls Norskies and Thunder Bay North Stars (Mike Tallari)
Kam River Fighting Walleye (SIJHL) defenceman Kersey Reich is from Estevan and was taking part in a Fall Camp for Midget ‘AAA’ Hockey.
“Immediately the tone around everything was different,” Reich remembered. “Lots of (my teammates) had friends on the bus and it really affected the whole hockey world. It was a tragedy for sure, especially to happen in my home province.”
Reich also had a specific friend on the bus, who unfortunately passed away in the crash.
“That obviously affected me personally,” Reich noted. “It really put things in perspective as to how lucky we all are to play junior hockey and do things together as a team, like ride a bus.”
The 29-year-old driver of the semi Jaskirat Singh Sidhu pled guilty to sixteen counts of dangerous operation of a motor vehicle causing death and 13 counts of dangerous operation of a motor vehicle causing bodily injury.
He was sentenced to 8 years in prison and is still fighting to stay in Canada.
The crash happened just 22 minutes outside of the final destination in Armley, Saskatchewan.
Randy MacLEAN, who was the Vice President for the team at the time recalls the outpouring of support, “A tragedy, while at the same time we witnessed the amazing things that happen when people and communities and the nation pull together to support each other in a crisis situation.”
He added, “The giving and humanity and the compassion, empathy of our fellow citizens within Humboldt, the province of Saskatchewan, the country of Canada and all over the world was something that was an honour to be a part of, an honour to support and an honour to work through such a horrific event,”
The club played their first home game of the 2018–19 season on September 12th against the Nipawin Hawks.
With files from Kevin Jeffrey and Tara Clow.
Centennial Cup Changing Formats This Year
Whoever wins the Bill Salonen Cup will book a trip to Estevan, Saskatchewan.
The Superior International Junior Hockey League (SIJHL), in conjunction with Hockey Canada and the Canadian Junior Hockey League (CJHL), announced a revised format for the 2022 Centennial Cup.
The tournament will begin May 19th and will feature the host Bruins (SJHL), as well as all nine champions of the other leagues.
As a result, traditional CJHL regional championships – including the Dudley-Hewitt Cup, previously scheduled to be hosted by the Red Lake Miners – will not be contested this season.
“We just weren’t sure what the traditional format would look like in this environment,” said SIJHL Commissioner Darrin Nicholas. “With leagues giving indications they weren’t going to be able to participate in regionals this season as a result of the delays in completing their schedules, the CJHL board recognized it needed to find a way to relieve some pressure and uncertainty from the host committees.”
As of now, there is no plan for a 10-team national championship beyond this year, and Red Lake would have the first right-of-refusal to host a rescheduled Dudley-Hewitt Cup in May of 2023.
Superior League Hopes To Resume In February
The local Junior ‘A’ hockey league remains optimistic that they’ll be back on the ice next month.
The province will enter a stay at home order on Thursday morning. In addition to the lockdown announcement on January 7th, Northern Ontario will remain in Code Grey until at least January 23rd. That means hockey facilities are closed and all Hockey Northwestern Ontario programming is paused.
Commissioner Darrin Nicholas says right now the plan is to have the players stay put.
“My vision would be that we keep the players in the community and find a way on a local level to keep them engaged in the season. That way we don’t have to go through [the quarantine process] again,” says Nicholas. “For instance if the restrictions are lifted on February 11th, we can get the players on the ice for a few days and we could be playing games as quickly as February 14th or 15th.”
The Commissioner admits the idea of bubbling up all of the teams in a central location has been floated if and when they get the green light to resume the season.
“If we only have a short window to play games, maybe we can put together two or three showcase events back to back with three games in a day,” adds Nicholas. “Any and all options remain on the table. If there’s a way to give some meaningful hockey to the league and to our players we’ll be committed for that.”
Billet Families Needed For Ice Dogs
The Dryden GM Ice Dogs are now looking for billet families for the upcoming SIJHL season.
Homes are needed for the 2020-2021 campaign.
Team officials say becoming a billet family is a rewarding experience full of lasting memories.
Anyone interested in helping or requiring more information is asked to get a hold of Jenn Turgeon at jennturgeon@hotmail.com
You can also visit the Ice Dogs Facebook page.
https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=3325088974206464&id=183933848322008
Ice Dogs Preparing For Annual Golf Tournament
The Dryden GM Ice Dogs are trading in their hockey sticks for golf clubs.
The annual Martin Anderson Memorial Golf Tournament is Saturday, September 12th at Anderson’s Homestead Golf Course.
This is a fundraiser for the Junior Hockey team at a very important time.
Entry for the nine hole event is $50 per golfer and includes a barbeque lunch.
It’s a fun event and open to all skill levels.
For more information and to register text Adi at 220-0094 or email to adilang74@gmail.com
Ice Dogs Receive Help From Head Coach
A true sign of the character and love of the game of hockey of Dryden GM Ice Dogs Head Coach and GM Kurt Walsten.
President Mike Sveinson says Walsten has stepped up and made a huge sacrifice to help the team survive this season.
“Kurt understands the challenges we face and is committed to the Ice Dogs long term. He’s committed to Dryden long term. So I wanted the public to know that. This is a guy who has taken a cut in his salary just so that we can keep on moving forward.”
Sveinson adds “He’s allowed his contract to be renegotiated to let the team weather the storm financially throughout this year. We are super fortunate to have that. Without that it’s one more challenge we have to face.”
Kurt Walsten has been the bench boss of the Ice Dogs since 2014-2015 and has guided the team to two Bill Salonen Cups.
COVID-19 and the cancellation of games have crippled budgets for most Junior Hockey teams in Canada.
Sveinson says the SIJHL season ended before the playoffs last year and that’s where they make most of their money.
Sveinson stresses they will be asking for the support, sponsorship and the fundraising that they always do in order to combat current shutdowns.
“I just hope that the people are supportive and understand that we do have the challenges here and that we do need the help. We are going to announce a general meeting coming up in September. Hope members of the community show up and want to take part.”
Sveinson says they plan to hold a long training camp in mid-October in preparation for a scheduled mid-November start-up.
To hear more from Ice Dogs President Mike Sveinson, visit the Audio link below.
Dryden Ice Dogs Welcome Lang Lee
The Dryden GM Ice Dogs are already preparing for the next season as they are announcing a new signing.
The Ice Dogs are acquiring Forward Lang Lee from Swift Current Saskatchewan from the Prairie Hockey Academy.
Lee stands at 6’4″ and weighs 190 pounds.
Lee says he is excited to play for the Ice Dogs and to meet his new team mates and members of the community.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CCoWsH5hGdF
Ice Dogs Lawn Sign Fundraiser
The Dryden GM Ice Dogs want to brighten your day and help you cope from the COVID-19 blues.
Lawn signs are available for purchase where you can order one to help someone celebrate a special occasion or achievement.
Fundraising spokesperson Lori Russell was a guest on the CKDR Morning Show Thursday and says for a minimum $20 donation a volunteer will place a sign of your liking on a neighbourhood property.
Seven different lawn kits are available to recognize a birthday, graduation, anniversary, special occasion, purchase of a new home, a thank you, engagement or a new addition to the family.
Russell says “It’s just been really great to have the lawn signs pop up all over our community and really brighten peoples day during these times that we’re in.”
Russell adds “It’s been so fun to be a part of many peoples celebrations and their birthdays. We’ve had a lot of people who have purchased the signs as well. Sent us pictures or videos of their family members or loved ones.”
This is a fundraiser for the Junior Hockey team as they try and raise funds for the upcoming SIJHL season.
For more information or to order a sign you can call Lori at 221-6335.
To hear more from Lori Russell, visit the Audio link below.
