Spencer-Dahl Overthrows King in Goalie Battle

Sioux Lookout, ON – It was First Responders Appreciation Night at the Hangar in Sioux Lookout on Saturday night. Among the 497 fans in attendance were several members of the area’s first responders, including Ontario Provincial Police, Northwest EMS, Sioux Lookout Fire Services, Ornge Air Ambulance, Lac Seul Police Service and Nishnawbe-Aski Police Service. The sale of game-worn jerseys, auctioned, signed jerseys and proceeds from the Rotary 50-50 were donated to Boots on the Ground. A cheque was presented for $4100 to representatives of the Ontario-based helpline that provides peer support for first responders, by first responders.

It was the Kenora Islanders’ second trip to Sioux Lookout this season. The previous game was a 7-3 win for the Bombers. The first half of the period was rather slow-paced as the teams got reacquainted. Both goaltenders made several solid stops to start the evening. It was just a glimpse of what was to come. A clearing attempt by the Islanders was picked up by Cedric Robidoux who walked in and fired a shot from top of the left circle beating Kaden King just under the blocker. The unassisted marker was his second of the season.  There were two minor penalties in the frame, both handed out to the Islanders.

The goalie battle continued through the second period. The Islanders and Bombers both had chances, registering 17 and 15 shots on goal in the second period, respectively. Matthew Spencer-Dahl stopped everything that came his way. Kaden King made several highlight reel saves himself but was beat once on the power play. The Bombers were moving the puck well with the man advantage. Dayvan Bull, in his first game back form injury, took a shot from the point that was deflected just wide of the net by Owen Riffel, who also was back on the ice for the first time two weeks. Connor Burke picked up the loose puck behind the net and wrapped it for his ninth goal this year at 16:50.

The third period was more of the same from the two netminders. Kaden King did everything in his power to give his team a chance to comeback but equal to the task on the other end, Matthew Spencer-Dahl denied every attempt to spoil his shutout. At 1:50, Keelian Levasseur did manage to get the puck in the back of the Bombers’ net but the referees determined that his net drive interfered with Spencer-Dahl’s ability to make a save on the second effort and ruled no-goal on the play.

It was a relatively disciplined game for both teams with only nine minor infractions all game. Cedrik Robidoux was awarded the game’s third star, Kaden King earned the second star for his 47 save performance in his first start for the Islanders and Matthew Spencer-Dahl was crowned first star, picking up his third win and first shutout of the season.

The Bombers travel to the Lakehead to take on the North Stars on November 9th and the Fighting Walleye on the 10th and 11th. The Islanders’ next five games will be played at home at Woodland Arena in Vermilion Bay, starting with November 11th and 12 against the Thunder Bay North Stars.