The Ice Wolves won their home opener 3-2 Saturday against the Nipawin Hawks. (Derek Cornet/larongeNOW Staff)

By Derek Cornet

new season

Ice Wolves win home opener

Sep 25, 2023 | 3:17 PM

The Ice Wolves have one win and one loss following back-to-back season and home openers last week.

The 2023-2024 Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League season began in Melfort on Sept. 22 for the Ice Wolves against the Mustangs. The Ice Wolves lost their first game 8-4 with it being the team’s first match against the Mustangs since being eliminated by them in the first round of the 2023 playoffs in March.

“I thought it started out well. We were out shooting them 12-3 and it was 2-0,” Ice Wolves head coach Kevin Kaminski said.

“We turned the puck over too much and then our defensive play wasn’t very good. We didn’t pride the little things. We didn’t stop and start, we didn’t block enough shots, we didn’t get pucks out and they capitalized.”

The home opener was held Sept. 23 at La Ronge’s Mel Hegland Uniplex against the Nipawin Hawks. The Ice Wolves won 3-2 on a shootout with Dylan Handel (first period), Rylan Silzer (third) and Raine Hodge (shootout) earning goals.

Health

Saskatchewan warned of helium supply cut because of Middle East war

21h ago

Out of this World

WATCH: Canadian Space Agency's first space to Earth video call with Jeremy Hansen

22h ago

Iran War

Iran calls on public to find 'enemy pilot' as U.S. continues frantic search

Apr 04, 2026

“We turned it around big time on Saturday at home. I thought we played a very solid, stingy defensive game,” Kaminski said.

“We ran into some penalty problems in the third, but our penalty kill was outstanding, not allowing a goal in both games. I think we’ve only given up 21 shots after two, so we corrected a lot of things. The effort, the passion and the heart was better on Saturday. It was nice to come away with two points in front of a great crowd. It was a good response by the boys to get a ‘W.’”

The Ice Wolves have back-to-back games against the Flin Flon Bombers next with the first on the road on Friday, followed by another at home on Saturday. Both games have 7:30 p.m. start times.

“We had a long practice today. We worked on a lot of things. Tomorrow is going to be the same, and then Wednesday will be powerplay/penalty kills, and Thursday will be kind of our normal pregame skate before we have to head to Flin Flon,” Kaminski said.

“We’re working on systems, we’re working on fitness. We’re just trying to get prepared mentally and physically and get ready for the weekend.”

–

derek.cornet@pattisonmedia.com