Photo By Patrick Boucha
Cochenour Ontario
The Dryden Ice Dogs made the first trip up the 105 for the 2023/24 SIJHL season for action at the Cochenour Arena. The weather outside didn’t seem like it was hockey time but the buzz onside the arena said otherwise. Ewan Soutar would get the start in net for the visitors while Trent Boryszczuk got the nod for the home team.
Miners fans didn’t get what they wanted as Dryden would take the early lead when Sean Smith pushed a loose puck past Boryszczuk for a power play marker and a 1-0 lead. McLaren Paulsen would extend the lead to 2-0 with a short handed tally at 16:12. After 20 minutes of play the Ice Dogs outshot the Miners 25-10 and led 2-0.
Second period action had the Miners pick up the pace and try to get back in the game. After a couple of early chances the first Miners goal at home of the season was scored by Harlan Jacobson with his first as a Miner to cut the lead in half at 2:56. Both teams would have a power play chance in the period and neither was successful. Miners would outshoot the Ice Dogs 18-11 in the second period and trail by 1 after 40 minutes of play.
Third period action was back and forth before Luke DeCorby potted his second of the season ripping one past Soutar on the power play to tie the game at 2. Miners would add another goal on the power play courtesy of Jared Burnett who scored his first as a Miner at 14:48 to give the home team a 3-2 lead. Dryden would make a late push to tie the game before Blake Hiltermann sent a long bomb down the ice into an empty net to secure the Miners win.
Final score Miner 4 Ice Dogs 2. Trent Boryszczuk was great for the Miners in the win making 50 saves to pick up his second win of the season.