Mitch Calvert
The Fort Frances Jr. Sabres closed out the first half of their season in convincing fashion, trouncing the visiting Dryden Ice Dogs 4-0 at the Ice for Kids Arena on Saturday night.
The game featured some old-time hockey, along with plenty of hard hits and fights.
The Sabres (18-9-1) avenged a tough 4-1 loss up in Dryden three nights earlier.
Kyle Ruhl stopped 20 shots for his second shutout in three starts with the Sabres while Mitch Cain added a goal and two assists after missing the game in Dryden while attending the CJHL’s “Prospects Game.”
“We had some key guys sitting out [Wednesday], and we weren’t ready to play, but we came ready to play tonight,” Ruhl said after Saturday’s game. “On the penalty kill, I could see every shot from the point and it definitely made my job easier.”
Chris Sinclair and Rod Bouchard (who both missed the previous game, as well) added singles while Dan Usiski scored a beauty on a backhand off the bar and in.
The win improved the Sabres’ home record to 9-4, and also left them alone in third place in the SIJHL standings—two points behind the Thunder Bay Bearcats and eight back of the front-running Fort William North Stars.
Logan McDonell, Kalib Thunderchief, and Ryan Witherspoon all ended the nights with fighting majors as familiarity bred contempt in the seventh meeting between the two teams.
“This year it seems like people are tying up more, so it was nice to see someone throw back,” McDonell said of his scrap with Jon Mitchell.
“It was also nice afterwards, he came up to me in the stands and shook my hand, and said ‘good fight,’” McDonell added. “It’s good to see the respect like that because you don’t see it too often.”
The Sabres resume action Jan. 9 on the road against the North Stars.
