La Ronge's Mel Hegland Uniplex is home of the Ice Wolves. (Derek Cornet/larongeNOW Staff)

By Derek Cornet

Junior Hockey

Ice Wolves look to pull ahead in the standings this weekend

Nov 18, 2020 | 5:00 PM

The La Ronge Ice Wolves are looking to pull ahead in the standings this weekend when they have back-to-back games against the Melfort Mustangs.

“We’ll watch the video and see what they got, but we know Melfort has been a contender and we’re getting prepared and focus,” Ice Wolves Head Coach Kevin Kaminski said. “We know it’s a huge weekend and it’s kind of a first-place type of weekend. We win two and we will gain a little bit of room on some teams. We just got to do our own part, control our own destiny and come out of the gates flying.”

The Ice Wolves currently sit at three wins and one loss in the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League standings. After a penalty-filled home opener and defeat against the Nipawin Hawks on Nov. 6, the Ice Wolves won back-to-back wins last weekend against the Battlefords Stars. They also played a second game Nov. 17 against the Hawks, which was rescheduled due to a blizzard Nov. 7.

In Tuesday’s game against the Hawks in Nipawin, the Ice Wolves’ Holden Knights made the first goal in the first period. The team would go on to win the game 6-3 with additional goals by Spencer Kennedy and Beau Larson in the second, and Nolan Allan, Kennedy and Larson in the third.

“We started out good and then they came out strong,” Kaminski said. “Second period they came out flying and Xavier Cannon weathered the storm for us and he was outstanding last night.”

Two Thumbs Up

New uranium mines to push Saskatchewan into 'new era'

35m ago

Team Canada

Provinces celebrates winter Olympic and Paralympic team members

1h ago

Life saving lessons

CPR training to be offered in Saskatchewan schools next year

5h ago

It was also announced Wednesday Kaminski and Associate Coach Gaelan Patterson have signed multi-year contracts with the Ice Wolves. Kaminski, who was named the SJHL coach of the year, is in his second season with the team and Patterson is in his third.

Gaelan Patterson (left) stands with Kevin Kaminski. (Derek Cornet/larongeNOW Staff)

During the 2019-2020 regular season, the duo achieved a 33-19-3-3 record but the playoffs were cancelled due to the coronavirus.

“The first year was awesome and we built a different culture and that’s what we are trying to do here is instill that into the new guys,” Kaminski said. “Never be satisfied and always be hungry and wanting more, especially winning. Greedy is not the best word, but greedy to win to me is very good in our sport.”

With a review of sports announced by the provincial government this week, Kaminski is hopeful the season will be permitted to be allowed to go on as planned. He said there couldn’t be many other restrictions that could be in place aside from shutting the league down.

“All the teams are following protocol and doing whatever it takes to keep the games going,” Kaminski said. “Everyone wears a mask in the building and we’re doing our part. Hopefully, it continues and they don’t shut us down.”

The Ice Wolves next play the Melfort Mustangs at the Mel Hegland Uniplex on Nov. 20. The game starts at 7:30 p.m.

–

derek.cornet@jpbg.ca

Twitter: @saskjourno