Staff
Whoops.
The Fort Frances Jr. Sabres suffered a rare home defeat Tuesday night at the Ice for Kids Arena, but even more surprising was the fact it came against the last-place Sioux Lookout Flyers, who earned just their second win of the season.
The Flyers (2-32-2) got five points from newcomer Jeff Bienvenue and scored four times in the third period to upset the Sabres (22-13-2) by a 7-4 score.
Former Sabres’ goalie David Novak outduelled the guy who replaced him, Kyle Ruhl, stopping 37 of the 41 shots he faced.
Ruhl, meanwhile, was yanked after giving up the sixth Flyers’ goal midway through the third period.
Bienvenue scored three times (including an empty-netter) while Maverick Blackhawk, Kevin Paul, Brad Mailman, and A.J. Wensley netted singles for the Flyers, who are now coached by Randy Lulashnick after he was let go by the Dryden Ice Dogs and replaced by Vince Gernat earlier this month.
Wensley, an Atikokan native, also contributed three assists.
Since being acquired earlier this month, Bienvenue has 13 points in seven games—adding a much-needed spark to the Flyers’ attack.
Mitch Cain, Colton Kennedy, Dan Usiski, and Graham Dyck all scored for the Sabres, who now have lost four of their last six games to trail the second-place Thunder Bay Bearcats by three points (though Fort Frances has played three more games).
The Sabres and Flyers will square off again this Sunday afternoon in Sioux Lookout, where the hosts will be looking for their first home-ice victory of the season.
