Both local Superior International Junior Hockey League (SIJHL) teams are on home ice this weekend.
The Thunder Bay North Stars will play a game at the Fort William Gardens for the first time in 22 days with the Fort Frances Lakers providing the opposition Friday and Saturday.
A COVID-19 outbreak within the team postponed three home dates in February with no make up dates announced.
Captain Hunter Foreshew believes when it comes to the SIJHL, anybody can win on any given night.
“Wisconsin (Lumberjacks) beat Red Lake (Miners) the other day, Fort Frances (Lakers) went on a tear and were beating some of the top teams,” Foreshew noted. “We have to do well this weekend, we need these points to keep fourth place or over take Dryden for third. We cannot change our game because Fort Frances beat us in the last game we played them and we cannot take them lightly.”
The North Stars come into Fridays contest with a 17-14-3-1 record while the Lakers have five wins in 34 games.
The Kam River Fighting Walleye (29-5-2-0) play three games in two and a half days in Oliver Paipoonge, beginning with the Dryden GM Ice Dogs (22-11-2-1) Friday and Saturday.
Saturday night’s game will feature the Orange Wave with the Walleye wearing special Indigenous-themed jerseys.
“It’s an honour to put on the jersey for this night,” stated Defenceman Trystan Goodman. “Being indigenous, I’m proud to bring awareness and share my culture to people who are not familiar with it, so I think it’s an awesome thing.”
The Walleye have four players on their roster that have Indigenous roots, which includes forward Trenton Morriseau of the Fort William First Nation.
Game time is 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
The Sunday matinee between the Fighting Walleye and Lakers drops the puck at 1:30 p.m.
