The Arborg Ice Dawgs earned two of a possible six points during a busy early-January stretch, dropping a home game to the Selkirk Fishermen, falling in overtime to the St. Malo Warriors, and rebounding with a road win over the North Winnipeg Satelites.
Selkirk skated to a 5–1 victory over Arborg on Jan. 2 at Arborg & District Arena, outshooting the Ice Dawgs 44–40. Deacon Kemp opened the scoring late in the first period and the Fishermen added three second-period goals to take control. Eastyn Bochurka provided Arborg’s lone goal late in the third, assisted by Dainen Jacobson and Tytan Johnson. Goaltender Paxton Moore faced 44 shots in the loss.
Arborg bounced back the following night but came up just short in a 5–4 overtime loss to St. Malo on Jan. 3 at St. Jean Arena. The Ice Dawgs erased multiple deficits and led 4–3 after two periods, with goals from Tytan Johnson, Bradley Kemkaran, Dominick Collins and Noah Smolinski. St. Malo tied the game midway through the third before Keston Worley completed a hat trick with the overtime winner. Zavery Wahoski made 38 saves for Arborg.
The Ice Dawgs closed the stretch with a 4–3 win over North Winnipeg on Jan. 6 at Billy Mosienko Arena. After trailing 2–0 early in the second, Arborg rallied behind a three-goal performance from Smolinski, who scored twice shorthanded in the third period. Brandon Burak had a goal and three assists, while Moore stopped 31 shots to earn the win.
Arborg sits sixth in the standings with a 7-? record and 14 points, trailing North Winnipeg by four points for fifth place. The Ice Dawgs return to action Sunday, Jan. 18, when they travel to Selkirk for a 3 p.m. rematch at the Selkirk Recreation Complex.
