Mitch Calvert
Despite seemingly having all the cards stacked against them, goalie Ryan Faragher helped the Fort Frances Jr. Sabres take four points from one of the SIJHL’s premiere teams on the weekend here.
Faragher stopped 66 of 67 shots in the two-game series, backstopping the Sabres (10-6-1) to consecutive victories of 4-0 and 2-1 over the Thunder Bay Bearcats (11-2-3).
“Faragher held us in for the first two periods [Saturday] and we came out flying in the third,” Sabres’ head coach Wayne Strachan noted. “It was a tough game as a coach to watch until the third period came around, and the boys showed a lot of character coming back and winning the game.”
Gabe Capozzi had a goal and two assists in Friday night’s victory while Dan Usiski netted the game-tying goal in the third period of Saturday’s game before notching the eventual winner in the shootout with a wrister high over Drew Strandberg’s glove.
Capozzi has flourished alongside Chris Sinclair and Brendan Baumgartner, scoring a goal and adding six assists in the four games since his promotion to the top line.
“Capozzi has done a good job in stepping up on the first line,” Strachan said. “He is competing hard now, and with his two linemates he is finding holes and generating some nice offensive chances.”
The Sabres now have won four games in a row.
“A huge step in the right direction,” Strachan said of the three home wins, including Thursday night’s 5-1 win over Schreiber.
“We have really come together as a team the last couple of weeks,” he added. “We needed to get some confidence against the Bearcats and I think we certainly have it now.”
Injuries to forwards Dan Smith and Chad Reynolds, plus the departure of Carson Dubchak to the OHL, has opened the door for some players to expand their roles—and the results have been as good as they could be so far.
Graham Dyck, asked to provide more of an offensive role to go with the physical aspects of his game, has found good chemistry with Kyle Turgeon and Mitch Cain on the second line.
“Graham has always been a player we thought could be a force for us,” Strachan remarked. “He is big and strong, and has talent. We have been very happy with his play as of late.”
The Sabres also have had to rely on some affiliated players to fill out their depleted lineup, with several Muskies getting quality minutes in some games, including Adam Wensley, Zach McCool, and Mike Jourdain.
“All of our [affiliated players] that have played have been good for us,” Strachan enthused. “They are a bunch of young guys who are working hard and learning the game a little more playing with us.
“It’s good we have them through this time of need with our injury situation.”
The Sabres have been able to hold leads late into games recently—a far cry from earlier games in the season which saw them self-destruct at the first sign of adversity. This recent success is a promising sign this young team is gaining confidence and maturity on the ice, no matter the opponent.
“We have been harping at them about consistency for 60 minutes, and for the most part, the last six out of seven games we have really played hard for 60 minutes,” Strachan insisted.
“I think the changes we have made, both in personnel and on the ice in our systems, has really helped our team,” he noted. “A few guys left in the first month and the team has really gelled together since then, and it has showed in our play and camaraderie around the rink.”
Despite being a focal point of the offence before his shoulder ailment, Smith has decided not to return to the team.
“He wouldn’t have been active for another few weeks, but has decided to take another path in his life away from hockey,” Strachan said.
“He feels due to a few injuries he has had that he should go in a different direction,” Strachan added. “It is a shame he has chosen this as we feel he was just coming into his own and playing well.
“We wish Dan the best of luck in whatever he decides to do, [but] we are hoping he will rethink his plans and come back to the team.”
The Sabres added a veteran defenceman before the two-game weekend series with the Bearcats, acquiring Kyle Friesen from the OCN Blizzard of the Manitoba Junior Hockey League.
Friesen, who had one assist in 16 games for the Blizzard, brings a calming influence to what is a fairly rookie-laden defensive corps.
“Friesen brings a veteran presence on the blueline and experience,” Strachan lauded. “He is a big strong player who moves the puck well. We are hoping he is the guy that will take care of our own end and clear the front of the net.”
The Sabres now face a long layoff between games, not getting back into action until Nov. 20 when they face these same Bearcats in Thunder Bay. Then they’ll play a pair of games against the host Fort William North Stars on Nov. 21-22.
The squad’s next home game is slated for Thursday, Nov. 27 versus the Dryden Ice Dogs.
