By Fighting Walleye Staff

Oliver Paipoonge, ON – The Kam River Fighting Walleye survived a gritty comeback effort from the visiting Fort Frances Lakers to earn a victory, the 10th win in their last 11 contests, on Saturday night at NorWest Arena.

The home side jumped out to a two-goal lead in the first period. Jeremy Dunmore opened the scoring on a nice passing play with Ryan Doucette and Riley Borody. The Kam River captain was left alone in front to deposit his 13th goal of the season at the 5-minute mark. Then Braeden Duchesne, with his first of three on the night, scored on the powerplay to send the Walleye into the first intermission up by two.

But the visiting Lakers didn’t fold up the tent, battling back in the second to close the gap to one. It was Brady Krentz, with his 6th goal of the campaign, who gave his team the momentum midway through the middle frame. Fort Frances would go on to outshoot the Walleye by a 13 – 10 margin in the period.

Fort Frances tied it up early in the third, when Josh Greene scored with the man advantage to make the score 2-2. It was the Pullman, Washington native’s 3rd goal of the season. The newly squared-away score seemed to wake up Kam River, as they proceeded to turn the intensity up, outshooting the Lakers by 26 to 7 the rest of the way. The ramped-up pressure paid off for the home team when Braeden Duchesne scored his second of the game to give the Walleye a 3-2 lead, a lead they would not relinquish. Easton Debray, with his first as a Walleye, Braeden Duchesne, to complete his hat trick, and Sam Sargent, with his second goal in as many games, would score in a four-minute span to close out a 6-2 victory for the Fighting Walleye.

Kam River rookie goaltender Travis VanderZwaag was outstanding in the contest, turning aside 30 of 32 shots for his 5th win of the season.

The Fighting Walleye take on Thunder Bay in a two-game series next weekend at the Fort William Gardens.

The Lakers travel to Sioux Lookout for games next Friday and Saturday night.

G and G Excavating 3 Stars

3rd – Easton Debray KRW

2nd – Jeremy Dunmore KRW

1st – Braeden Duchesne KRW