If you can’t play junior hockey in your hometown, a 30-minute trip east of it isn’t a bad alternative.
That’s the reality for goaltender Brady Cates, who’s from Emo but is a returning member of the Fort Frances Lakers.
“[Fort Frances is] kind of just near my hometown, so figured might as well go play some junior hockey [there] and have some fun. We have a good group of guys [here], so it’s been good talk,” said Cates, following the Lakers 3-2 victory over the Kam River Fighting Walleye on Saturday, September 27th.
16-year-old forward Dax Laplante is also an Emo product on the Lakers squad this season.
Cates is following in the footsteps of Jack Orchard, who patrolled the Lakers crease during the 2023/2024 season after being picked up in a deal with the Soo Eagles of the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League (NOJHL). Orchard helped the Kam River Fighting Walleye win the Bill Salonen Cup in 2023.
Cates earned an honorable mention for the Week Three Stars by turning aside 34 of 35 shots in a 7-1 win over the Thunder Bay North Stars on October 3rd.He has a 3-0-1 record for the season to go along with a goals against average of 1.25 and a save percentage of 955.
Cates is a big believer in Head Coach and General Manager Luke Judson, adding “Our coaching staff work us hard every day in practice. We’re doing well. And I think [that] nobody’s being selfish out there. We’re just finding a way to finish out every game.”
When asked how kids from Emo develop, Cates notes “Most of them go to Fort Frances to play ‘AA’ hockey. [That said] I think that things are going to get better in the next few years. Some guys that have played junior hockey in the past are coming back and helping out with some programs, which is good to see.”
Emo saw a drop in its population in the 2021 Census with 1,204 as compared to 1,333 back in 2016.
UPCOMING GAME SCHEDULE
Friday October 24 vs. Sioux Lookout Bombers
Saturday October 25 vs. Sioux Lookout Bombers
Friday October 31 @ Dryden GM Ice Dogs
RED LAKE MINERS
The Miners entered the Thanksgiving weekend with their first win of the season over the Ironwood Lumberjacks on October 11th. The team also registered a point in a 4-3 shootout loss to the Kam River Fighting Walleye on October 3rd. Reid White and Bryan Linklater each have four goals while Noah Tenney leads the team in points with eight.
UPCOMING GAME SCHEDULE
Friday October 17 @ Thunder Bay North Stars
Saturday October 18 @ Thunder Bay North Stars
Friday October 24 @ Kam River Fighting Walleye
Saturday October 25 @ Kam River Fighting Walleye
Wednesday October 29 vs. Ironwood Lumberjacks
Thursday October 30 vs. Ironwood Lumberjacks
SIOUX LOOKOUT BOMBERS
A sweep of the Three Stars for the Bombers as they sit atop the league with seven wins in eight games.
Forward Brodie Wood scored in a pair of overtime wins in Dryden, while Defenceman Kaden Veller had the game winner on Saturday October 4th.
In the crease, Matthew Ofukany stopped 47 of 52 Ice Dogs shots to earn Star Goalie honours.
All three players were also recognized for their September efforts (Wood 10 points in 5 games, Veller 3 points in 5 games, Ofukany 2-1 record, 2.00 goals against average, .945 save percentage).
UPCOMING GAME SCHEDULE
Friday October 17 vs. Ironwood Lumberjacks
Saturday October 18 vs. Ironwood Lumberjacks
Tuesday October 21 vs. Dryden GM Ice Dogs
Friday October 24 @ Fort Frances Lakers
Saturday October 25 @ Fort Frances Lakers
Friday October 31 vs. Thunder Bay North Stars
DRYDEN GM ICE DOGS
The Ice Dogs came from behind at home to upend the Lakers 2-1 on Friday, October 10th and then shut them out a night later in Fort Frances. They sit a point behind the Fighting Walleye after Thanksgiving.
UPCOMING GAME SCHEDULE
Friday October 17 vs. Kam River Fighting Walleye
Saturday October 18 vs. Kam River Fighting Walleye
Tuesday October 21 @ Sioux Lookout Bombers
Friday October 24 @ Ironwood Lumberjacks
Saturday October 25 @ Ironwood Lumberjacks
Friday October 31 vs. Fort Frances Lakers
KAM RIVER FIGHTING WALLEYE
After slipping below the .500 mark, the Fighting Walleye have reeled off five wins in their last six games, including handing the Lakers their first defeat of the season on October 7th.
Forward Carter Poddubny was a honourable mention for the Week Three Star selection with points in all three of the teams games that week.
UPCOMING GAME SCHEDULE
Friday October 17 @ Dryden GM Ice Dogs
Saturday October 18 @ Dryden GM Ice Dogs
Friday October 24 vs. Red Lake Miners
Saturday October 25 vs. Red Lake Miners
THUNDER BAY NORTH STARS
The North Stars earned three of a possible four points against the Fighting Walleye this past weekend, and sit three points back of the Ice Dogs for fourth place in the overall standings (3-2-1-1).
Forward Evan Simeoni had a strong September with three goals and nine points, including a trio of multi-point efforts. Defenceman Chance Loke had five points in four games, which included two outings where he registered more than a point.
UPCOMING GAME SCHEDULE
Friday October 17 vs. Red Lake Miners
Saturday October 18 vs. Red Lake Miners
Friday October 31 @ Sioux Lookout Bombers
