Red Lake Miners rookie defenseman Graeme Tenhunen is looking forward to giving his family more chances to see him play.
“I am really looking forward to playing in Thunder Bay. It will definitely feel like a home coming. Playing in western Canada for the last two years, my family hasn’t had a lot of opportunities to see me play,” Tenhunen said.
The Thunder Bay native spent the last two seasons in Winnipeg playing within the RINK Hockey Academy. After being invited to tour the facilities and talking with the coaching staff, Tenhunen was sold on the opportunity to head west to further his hockey development.
“I did set hockey goals for myself and playing junior A hockey was a step in my development and path to playing the highest-level hockey I could. I am happy and excited to have the opportunity to play as a 16-year-old,” Tenhunen added. “My name was passed along to (Head Coach Billy Keane). We had a few great conversations about playing in Red Lake and I was offered a spot on the team.”
Tenhunen was part of the RINK Hockey Academy squad that took part in the 2024 Border Battle at the Tournament Centre. He, along with Thunder Bay forward Jake Ritson, helped the out-of-town team win the championship game 4-1 over the Hermantown Hawks out of Minnesota.
Outside of the nine Thunder Bay born players on the Kam River Fighting Walleye and the thirteen that are on the Thunder Bay North Stars roster, there are five other Thunder Bay born players in the SIJHL. Tenhunen is teammates with forwards Luke Sicilano and forward Kellan Ozerkevich as well as defencemen Evan Wesley and Daniel Lombardo. Defenceman Max Caddo of the Fort Frances Lakers and forward Griffin McGraw of the Dryden GM Ice Dogs also come from Thunder Bay. Nearby communities of Murillo (North Stars Defenceman Connor Larrett) and Oliver Paipoonge (Fighting Walleye forwards Gage Hordy and Nico Simoeni) are also represented on the two Lakehead squads.
When asked about a chance to sign with one of the two local teams, Tenhunen noted “I really liked what Coach Billy had to say about his willingness to give opportunities for a 16-year-old to develop in Junior A. So far, I have had a great time playing for the Miners. I have a great billet family and really get along my teammates.”
Tenhunen was happy to see the team get their first win of the season against the Ironwood Lumberjacks on October 11th.
“We had a slower start to the year, but I think the team is really starting to come together. We have a great group of guys who all work hard. Games are getting closer, and I think that more wins will come as the season goes on.”
UPCOMING GAME SCHEDULE
Friday November 7 @ Thunder Bay North Stars
Saturday November 8 @ Thunder Bay North Stars
Friday November 14 @ Fort Frances Lakers
Saturday November 15 @ Fort Frances Lakers
Tuesday November 18 @ Sioux Lookout Bombers
FORT FRANCES LAKERS
The Lakers were recognized on the Canadian Junior Hockey Leagues (CJHL) Top 20 list, grabbing the 18th spot. They swept a weekend double-header with the Sioux Lookout Bombers on home ice.
UPCOMING GAME SCHEDULE
Sunday November 2 vs. Kam River Fighting Walleye
Friday November 7 @ Sioux Lookout Bombers
Saturday November 8 @ Sioux Lookout Bombers
Tuesday November 11 vs. Ironwood Lumberjacks
Friday November 14 vs. Red Lake Miners
Saturday November 15 vs. Red Lake Miners
SIOUX LOOKOUT BOMBERS
PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
After losing both of their games last weekend to the Fort Frances Lakers, the Bombers now find themselves trailing the Dryden GM Ice Dogs for top spot in the Superior International Junior Hockey League (SIJHL). They enter the first weekend of November on a three-game losing skid.
UPCOMING GAME SCHEDULE
Saturday November 1 vs. Thunder Bay North Stars
Friday November 7 vs. Fort Frances Lakers
Saturday November 8 vs. Fort Frances Lakers
Tuesday November 18 vs. Red Lake Miners
DRYDEN GM ICE DOGS
A seven-game winning streak has vaulted the Ice Dogs into top spot in the SIJHL and earned them the 17th spot in the CJHL Top 20 rankings.
UPCOMING GAME SCHEDULE
Friday November 7 vs. Kam River Fighting Walleye
Saturday November 8 vs. Kam River Fighting Walleye
Friday November 14 @ Thunder Bay North Stars
Saturday November 15 @ Thunder Bay North Stars
Tuesday November 18 @ Fort Frances Lakers
KAM RIVER FIGHTING WALLEYE
The Fighting Walleye concluded October with a 7-3 record, which included back-to-back home wins against the Red Lake Miners.
UPCOMING GAME SCHEDULE
Sunday November 2 @ Fort Frances Lakers
Friday November 7 @ Dryden GM Ice Dogs
Saturday November 8 @ Dryden GM Ice Dogs
Friday November 14 @ Ironwood Lumberjacks
Saturday November 15 @ Ironwood Lumberjacks
THUNDER BAY NORTH STARS
The North Stars will hit the ice for game action on Halloween night against the Sioux Lookout Bombers. They last played on October 18th, earning a 2-1 victory over the Red Lake Miners.
UPCOMING GAME SCHEDULE
Saturday November 1 @ Sioux Lookout Bombers
Wednesday November 5 vs. Ironwood Lumberjacks
Friday November 7 vs. Red Lake Miners
Saturday November 8 vs. Red Lake Miners
Friday November 14 vs. Dryden GM Ice Dogs
Saturday November 15 vs. Dryden GM Ice Dogs
Tuesday November 18 vs. Ironwood Lumberjacks
