Ice Wolves head coach Kevin Kaminski, right, said its been a battle so far this season to hold on to a playoff spot. (Derek Cornet/larongeNOW Staff)

By Derek Cornet

junior hockey

Four games left for Ice Wolves as Christmas break approaches

Dec 9, 2024 | 4:19 PM

The La Ronge Ice Wolves are barely holding on to seventh place in the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League as the Christmas break approaches.

The Ice Wolves currently have a record of 15 losses and 13 wins for 27 points as of Dec. 7. They are tied for points with the Kindersley Klippers and Humboldt Broncos.

The Melfort Millionaires currently have 29 points (6th) and the Estevan Bruins have 22 (10th).

“It’s been a big battle here all year long to stay in a playoff spot and we are still in one,” said Ice Wolves head coach Kevin Kaminski.

“Now we are trying to upgrade and see what happens. Tomorrow is the roster freeze, so I’m working on a couple of things today and see what happens, but losing Dmitri Toporowski to Red Deer really hurt our defensive core and Connor Frost is out with an injury, so that hurts too.”

blaze

House fire in Bell's Point declared total loss

Jan 08, 2025

anniversary

Men of the North celebrates five years of supporting, engaging northerners

Jan 07, 2025

YEAR IN REVIEW

Carla Beck wraps up year with plan for next election

Dec 31, 2024

The Ice Wolves most recently lost back-to-back weekend games (6-2, 8-0) against the Melfort Mustangs, who are the current top team in the league with 42 points. Kaminski explained up until those games, the Ice Wolves had been playing consistent hockey.

“We have to get on a nice little winning streak before Christmas and put ourselves in a good spot when we get back,” he said.

“Our first period was awful. We showed up, but we forgot to play. Against the top team in the league, you spot them 3-0, she’s tough to come back. I thought it wasn’t an 8-0 game on Saturday night. I thought the boys played pretty well.”

There are four games remaining until the Christmas break with back-to-back games Friday and Saturday against the Nipawin Hawks, and then back-to-back games against the Flin Flon Bombers on the following weekend.

The Ice Wolves have played the Hawks four times this season and won each time, while they have lost to the Bombers both times they have played against them.

“This is a huge weekend for us,” Kaminski noted.

“We can’t take the foot off the gas here and think it is going to be easy. They have been playing some very good hockey as well. This is a good opportunity for us to get two wins under our belt before we play Flin Flon.”

–

derek.cornet@pattisonmedia.com