The Interlake Lightning U18 AAA squad picked up an emphatic home-ice win before running into a strong Southwest Cougars team as the club wrapped up a busy stretch of league play last week.
Interlake opened the two-game set with a 10–6 victory over the Kenora Thistles on Tuesday, Feb. 3 at Teulon-Rockwood Arena, producing one of its highest-scoring performances of the season.
The Lightning scored twice in the opening period and added three more in the second to build momentum before erupting for five goals in the third. Damon Marquart led the offensive charge with a hat trick and an assist, while Ryder Kirk chipped in with a goal and four helpers. Thoren Corbett had a goal and three assists, and Carson Kirk added two late goals, including an empty-net marker.
Also finding the scoresheet for Interlake were Elijah Rempel, Jacob Keck and Reid Toporoski. Grayson McDonald earned the win in goal, stopping 32 of 38 shots as the Lightning weathered Kenora power-play pressure.
Interlake followed that effort with a 5–2 loss to the Southwest Cougars on Saturday, Feb. 7 at VMSC Arena in Stonewall. The Cougars carried the play early, outshooting the Lightning 46–24 and scoring three times in the first period.
Corwyn Bear provided the offence for Interlake, scoring both Lightning goals — one late in the first period and another midway through the second — but Southwest sealed the outcome with a third-period empty-net goal. McDonald made 41 saves in a busy night between the pipes.
Interlake now turns its attention to a demanding stretch of games, beginning Tuesday, Feb. 10, when the Lightning host the Central Plains Capitals at Teulon-Rockwood Arena. The schedule continues Wednesday, Feb. 11 in Winnipeg against the league-leading Winnipeg Bruins, followed by road games in Morden against Pembina Valley on Feb. 14 and a home matchup with the Brandon Wheat Kings on Sunday, Feb. 15.
