The Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation (NCN) Flames are now nine points ahead of the second-place Opaskwayak Cree Nation (OCN) Storm in the Keystone Junior Hockey League standings after three straight victories Feb. 6-8.
The three-game stretch started off in OCN on Thursday, where Keistin Saunders and Henry Muchikekwanape scored third period goals less than two minutes apart to help their team comeback from a 3-2 deficit for a 4-3 win. Muchikekwanape had scored in the second period to tie the game 2-2 before Logan MacDonald put the Storm back on top. OCN opened the game with first period goals from Bryson Werbicki-Mallet and Hunter Bear before Jerome Linklater got the Flames on the board.
Shots in the game were 43-35 for the Flames, who got 32 saves from Braedin Melsted in net.
A five-goal second period separated the Flames from the shorthanded Norway House North Stars Feb. 7 in Nelson House en route to a 16-6 win. The teams had been tied 3-3 at the first intermission.
William Young, Michael Venne, Lance Laycock and Albert Berard all had a pair of goals for NCN, while Jayden Paul, Trent North, Jonathan Saunders, Linklater, Chase Muswagon, Muchikekwanape, James Moore and Keenan Keeper chipped in singles. Shots were 51-20 for the Flames, who got 14 saves from Melsted.
NCN scored seven times at the C.A. Nesbitt Arena Feb. 8 before the North Stars got on the board with a minute to play in the first period in what wound up as a 17-2 game. The North Stars had 16 players dressed for the game, compared to only 11 the night before. Rixton Flett had both of Norway House’s goals, while Muchikekwanape scored five times for NCN, with Venne adding four. Linklater and Michael Markus each scored twice, with Drew Tait-Reaume, North, Lance Laycock and Berard recording one goal apiece.
Shots were 56-22 for NCN and Kruz Mitchell made 22 saves in net.
The Flames have 39 points while the Storm have 30 and the Peguis Juniors have 25.
