Bombers take Game 1, Miners take Game 2 in best of seven playoff series

Tim Brody - Editor

The Sioux Lookout Bombers and the Red Lake Miners each came away with a win after Games 1 and 2 in round one of the Superior International Junior Hockey League (SIJHL) Playoffs.
Both games were played at the Hangar (Sioux Lookout Memorial Arena).
Game 1 of the best of seven series took place on March 21.
The Miners got on the scoreboard first with a Foxx McColl goal on the powerplay at 17:23.
The Bombers were quick to tie thanks to an Alex Lucas powerplay goal at 18:19.
Moving into the second period, Brodie Wood put the Bombers in the lead with a powerplay goal at 14:24.
Quinn Szpak answered back for the Miners with a powerplay goal to tie things up again at 15:35.
The Bombers broke the tie at 6:38 in the third period with Alex Lucas scoring his second goal of the night to put the Bombers ahead 3-2.
Lucas completed the hat trick, scoring his third goal of the evening on the powerplay at 17:46 to cushion the Bombers lead 4-2.
Brodie Wood scored the empty net goal at 19:48 to secure a 5-2 victory for the Bombers.
Bombers Head Coach Carson Johnstone said after the match, “Good game. It didn’t seem like we were totally comfortable in the first half. A little bit of nerves, obviously we’ve got a young team. I think as the game went on, we just kept doing little things right and gained momentum and in the third period we took over. A couple penalties cost them but our powerplay was on fire tonight so got to commend that.” 
Alex Lucas was a force for the Bombers during the match with a hat trick and two assists.
“I just went out there, battled my hardest, got to the spots and just happened to be in the right spots at the right times and put the puck in the net,” he shared.
Bombers Captain Jonah Smith assisted Lucas on each of his goals.
“I thought it was a pretty good game. Obviously 2-2 going into the third period. Twenty minutes of battling hard and we ended up coming out on top. I think this series is going to be a very good, hard battle all the way through,” Smith said. 
Matthew Ofukany stopped 36 of the 38 shots he faced to backstop the Bombers win.
“We played good defense all night. Just locked it down until we got opportunities in the third and capitalized,” he shared.
Ofukany said the intensity has definitely increased in the playoffs “We played them the weekend before and it’s already a lot faster and the crowd has been awesome too to give us energy when we need it, so it’s been really good.” 
Game 2 of the series took place the following evening. 
After a scoreless first period Owen Cotter got the puck past Miners goalie Nick Peters at 6:54 in the second period to give the Bombes a 1-0 lead.
Gabe Tanton replied back for the Miners at 3:50 in the third period to tie the match 1-1.
Fox McColl found the back of the net at 10:46 on the powerplay to put the Miners ahead 2-1.
The Bombers pulled their goalie for the extra offense in the final two minutes of the period, but the Miners were able to hold them off and skate away with the 2-1 win, tying the series 1-1.
“A couple untimely penalties. It is what it is. It’s too bad. That’s one that just kind of slipped away. It happens. You only score one goal and you let a team hang around, hang around, hang around, you can’t pull away. A couple chances. Their goalie made some nice saves and they played well. I’ve got to commend their efforts tonight too. They had a good, hard-working third period and were able to put a couple past us. We just couldn’t find the net. Some little things we want to take from tonight obviously and learn, just to build for next game, but not going to dwell on it either. Playoffs is a battle,” Johnstone shared after the match.
The series moved to Red Lake for Games 3 and 4 on March 25 and March 26.
Game 5 takes place on Friday at the Hangar. Puck drop is at 7 p.m.