THUNDER BAY – The Kam River Fighting Walleye have a chance to win back-to-back Bill Salonen Championships, something that hasn’t been done in the Superior International Junior Hockey League since 2017/2018.
The Walleye wrapped up the regular season with 15 straight wins and a record of 39-9-1-0. Their quarterfinal opponent will be the expansion Kenora Devils Gap Islanders, who won just two games in their inaugural season.
Despite clinching their third straight regular season crown last weekend, Fighting Walleye captain Jeremy Dunmore isn’t looking past the Islanders.
“It’s easy to take a team like that for granted,” Dunmore said.
“That’s their advantage, they have nothing to lose. We need to make sure that we show up prepared every game, anything can happen in playoffs but I’m confident in our team.”
John Paul Scaringi of the Islanders notes his team is embracing the underdog role.
“The biggest challenge that the Fighting Walleye have is that they have everything to lose. You never truly know what can happen in playoffs.”
“We have a tight knit group of guys who all work hard and the other teams have seen that consistency in bits and pieces throughout the year. If we are able to put it all together, I definitely think that the Fighting Walleye will feel the discomfort and challenge we can bring to the series.”
Dunmore is one of eight players on the Walleye roster who are facing the conclusion of their junior hockey playing days.
“As a graduating player, it does make you want to win that much more knowing it’s your last year,” Dunmore reflected. “All of our new guys hear about what it was like to win last year and they are hungry for that feeling.”
There are five graduating players on the Islanders, including Scaringi. He admits this year has been different for him knowing his days are limited in Junior ‘A’ hockey.
“I know what I need to do or not do to be successful on and off the ice,” added Scaringi. “That comes with the experience you get from playing hockey at this level for multiple years. You get a better understanding of what it’s like to be a hockey player, and what you can do to make life easier on yourself.”
After falling in the Bill Salonen Cup Final to the Red Lake Miners in 2022, the Fighting Walleye lost just five games in the 2023 post-season and clinched the league title at Norwest Arena on May 3rd with a 5-4 win over the Thunder Bay North Stars.
The young Junior ‘A’ franchise has a 14-8 record in the playoffs and are hoping for the opportunity to represent the league at the Centennial Cup in Oakville, Ontario.
Dunmore points to a slump that the team went on after the Christmas Break as a potential turning point in the season.
“We lost some games that we felt we shouldn’t have,” added Dunmore.
“After that, everyone picked up the intensity and totally bought into our style of hockey. As Captain, I think that shows the character of our group. Our team is very similar to last year, a family with winning being the goal on everyone’s mind.”
Scaringi said that the first year has been “a learning experience for everyone, whether it’s the coaching staff or the players. It wasn’t easy being a brand-new team in the league. As a group of guys who never played together or knew one another for the most part, we created a good culture that will only get stronger in the years ahead.”
Dunmore stated: “Our group just has to play our brand of hockey and we will be successful. I think that recipe can take us far in the postseason if we are able to make it out of the first round.”
Scaringi said believing is the biggest key to potentially upsetting the Walleye.
“We’re all young men just like them, so what is stopping us from winning the series, you know?”
“If we all buy in and truly look forward to the outcome, then I think we could not just surprise others but ourselves as well. We have to take things one game at a time especially because every team starts the playoffs with the same record."
Head to Head
Oct. 20: Fighting Walleye 9 @ Islanders 3
Oct. 21: Fighting Walleye 7 @ Islanders 2
March 1: Islanders 1 @ Fighting Walleye 11
March 2: Islanders 1 @ Fighting Walleye 12
March 3: Islanders 0 @ Fighting Walleye 11
March 9: Fighting Walleye 10 @ Islanders 2
March 10: Fighting Walleye 10 @ Islanders 2
The Fighting Walleye outscored the Islanders 70-11 in the seven games head-to-head
Series Schedule
Fri March 22: Islanders @ Fighting Walleye 7:45 pm
Sat March 23: Islanders @ Fighting Walleye 7:45 pm
Fri March 29: Fighting Walleye @ Islanders 7:30 pm
Sat March 30: Fighting Walleye @ Islanders 5:30 pm
