Sus-led Sabres derail Diesels

Fort Frances Jr. Sabres newcomers Steven Sus and Chris Sinclair powered their new team to a weekend sweep of the visiting Schreiber Diesels, propelling the Sabres into fourth place in the SIJHL standings.
Even with the stellar debuts of two local players and a step up in the standings, however, what will endure is the newfound bad blood between the two clubs after the 4-1 and 5-3 wins.
Schreiber goalie Matt Kernick jumped Sinclair moments after the end of the second period on Friday night as the forward was making his way past the goaltender to the Sabres’ dressing room—pounding him on the ice and leading to a cross-ice shouting match between the teams.
“For the team they had last year winning the whole league to the way they played tonight, they should be embarrassed,” Sabres’ head coach Wayne Strachan said.
“I guess I thought for the first two periods they were taking liberties on our skilled players and then their goalie jumps Sinclair . . . I don’t know how to put the word without swearing,” he chuckled.
“It’s not good for the game, but you’re not intimidating us.”
The liberties taken on-ice were apparent, with Sinclair (listed quite generously in the Sabres’ program as 5’8” but, in fact, is a few inches shorter) drawing much of the physical ire of the Diesels.
Sinclair said he doesn’t mind drawing a few penalties for the team, but that getting jumped by Kernick was wholly unexpected.
He didn’t deny chirping at the goalie or a few other players, but said no words were exchanged on his way off the ice.
“I was just kind of smiling at him all game. I was skating by him, smiling at him, next thing I know he’s in my face,” Sinclair said. “Never seen that.”
Also taking issue with the physical play of the Diesels was Kyle Turgeon who, after a knee-on-knee collision with Schreiber forward Jared Saunders, was given an early diagnosis of a sprained ACL and suspected to be out of the Sabres’ lineup for about four weeks.
Sus and Sinclair led all Sabres with four points each on the weekend, with Sus earning a goal and assist and Sinclair contributing a pair of assists in each game.
Sus admitted he was “a little bit nervous” playing back in front of a hometown crowd after spending the last few years away from Fort Frances, but getting his first goal in a Sabres uniform to start Friday night’s game just 1:31 in made for an easier weekend.
“It felt pretty good to get it out of the way, calmed me down a bit, too,” he said.
Also joining the Sabres for their homestand—their last home date until Jan. 11—were blueliner Tyler Hodges and forward Graham Dyck.
Dyck, a native of Atikokan, came to the Sabres on Saturday night (received in a trade with the Nipawin Hawks for future considerations), and proceeded to register his first points with the team with a pair of assists.
The Sabres are off next weekend, then will next play Dec. 19 in Dryden against an Ice Dogs’ squad they’ve yet to earn a point from this season.