By Fighting Walleye Staff
Oliver Paipoonge, ON – It was an emotional night at NorWest Arena, as the Kam River Fighting Walleye honoured the memory of former player Dayton Clarke, who passed away in a tragic accident in May. Clarke played for the team in the 2021-22 season and scored one of the most memorable goals in franchise history, an overtime game-winner at Fort William Gardens to send the Walleye past rival Thunder Bay North Stars and into the Bill Salonen Cup Final. Dayton’s family, and many of his former Walleye teammates, were on hand for a touching pre-game ceremony that ended with the club retiring Clarke’s number 10 jersey.
When the action kicked off, both teams understandably had a tentative start to the game. At the 14-minute mark of the first period, the Walleye got on the board first when Cole Fraser converted a Jett Mintenko centering feed and buried it to give his team a 1-0 lead.
The second period was evenly played, but the scoring was all Miners. Two early period goals, both before the 2-minute mark of the frame, put the visitors in front. Aiden Corbett and Gavin McIntosh were the goal scorers for Red Lake. As the Walleye made every attempt to even the score, including an opportunity on a 4-on-3-man advantage, it was the Miners who scored again when Skyler Carriere converted a Gabe Tanton pass to give his club a two-goal lead at the end of 40 minutes.
It appeared as though the game would go down to the wire after the Walleye tied it at 3 midway through the period. First, Kaden Goodwin would score for the Fish on a breakaway deke for his first career junior tally, to make it 3-2. Then, at the ten-minute mark, Daxton Lang converted on a breakaway goal of his own. The short-handed marker knotted the game up at 3. But just 25 seconds later, the Miners’ Noah Tenney scored on the powerplay to re-take the lead for Red Lake, a lead they would not relinquish. Blake Hiltermann and Brody Lindal added goals as the clock wound down to make the final score 6-3 Miners.
The two teams battle again Saturday night in Oliver Paipoonge.
G & G Excavating 3 Stars
3rd – Trent Boryszczuk – RLM
2nd – Cole Fraser – KRW
1st – Noah Tenney – RLM