Photo Credit: Patrick Boucha
COCHENOUR, Ont. – The English River Miners got a pair of goals from Sam Cirone then withstood a late comeback bid from the Fort Frances Lakers before eventually prevailing 5-4 in a Superior International Junior Hockey League preseason contest Saturday at Cochenour Arena.
Each side would score twice in the first period with Michael Di Lullo and Cirone striking for English River while Jaedin Ness and Ian Jarvis replied for Fort Frances.
The Miners would take a 4-2 lead after 40 minutes when Ethan Wong scored on the power play 4:03 into the session while Cirone picked up his second of the evening at 13:20.
Boehn Mock would notch the eventual game-winner for the home side just past the eight-minute mark of the third.
Battling back the Lakers drew closer on an Asher Chorney effort midway through the period then picked up one more just before time expired off the stick of Charlie Wilkie to round out the scoring.
Terix Fischer-Nobes had two assists for English River in the win.
Josh Breznik and Westin Cardwell split duties in net for the Miners, both allowing two against, and making 16 and 17 saves respectively.
Michael Binczyk went the distance in goal for Fort Frances facing 41 attempts in defeat.
English River will now open up the regular season Friday by hosting the defending SIJHL champion Dryden GM Ice Dogs while Fort Frances welcomes the Thief River Falls Norskies to Ice for Kids Arena in a pair of 7:30 p.m. starts.