DRYDEN, Ont. – Kendall Schulz notched his first two career Superior International Junior Hockey League goals while netminder Dawson Rattai made 50 saves in his debut as the Dryden GM Ice Dogs went on to defeat the Wisconsin Lumberjacks 5-1 Sunday afternoon at Memorial Arena.
Schulz started the scoring near the midway point of the opening frame as he finished off a feed from the corner courtesy of teammate Cortez Favot by chipping one over the glove of Lumberjacks starter Cole Manahan.
Dryden added early in the opening minute of the second stanza on a similar play when Justin Pitari found an open Evan Pakkala in the slot who promptly fired in his second tally of the young campaign to give the hosts a 2-0 lead after 40 minutes.
Wisconsin cut into the deficit 7:36 into the third when defenceman Jack Jones blasted one from the left point that flew through a crowd in front of Rattai to get the guests on the board during a man advantage opportunity.
However, the GM Ice Dogs answered that less than a minute later with a power play chance of their own that saw Amraj Gill wait for players to gather in front before blasting one that hit off Josh Gardner and skipped into the Lumberjacks net.
Schulz then added some insurance half way through the final frame as he stuffed in his second of the contest.
The home side then helped seal the deal with 8:31 to go as Pitari tucked one in short side for his third marker for Dryden.
Rattai’s 50 stops earned him his first SIJHL victory.
Wisconsin’s Manahan suffered the loss, allowing the five against on 34 chances while Nathan Mueller handled all seven attempts he faced in eight and a half minutes of relief.
Photo credits: Kerri-Ann Kanceruk