DRYDEN – The Red Lake Miners have advanced into the second round of the Superior International Junior Hockey League playoffs.
The Miners scored three unanswered goals in the second and third periods on Monday night and downed the Dryden Ice Dogs 3-1 in Game 5 of their best-of-seven opening-round series, eliminating their opponent 4-1.
Luke DeCorby, Ryker Watt and Noah Tenney scored for the Miners, who matched the Ice Dogs with 30 shots on net.
Carson Devine had the lone goal for Dryden, opening the scoring at 1:42 of the second period.
The Miners will take on the Kam River Fighting Walleye, the SIJHL’s defending champions, in Round 2, which is expected to get under way later this week at the Norwest Arena in Oliver Paipoonge.
The Sioux Lookout Bombers have home-ice advantage in the other SIJHL semifinal, and will tangle with the Thunder Bay North Stars, the runner-up in 2022-23.
Their series is expected to start on Friday.
