Superior on the power play
Red Lake Miners have the best power play success rate of the seven teams of the Superior International Jr. Hockey League. And, to be sure, there are multiple engine parts to the high octane Red Lake PP.
The Red Lake power play is clicking at a league-best 27.2 per cent efficiency rate. And Geoff Walker, who is the coach and general manager of the Miners, said a lot goes into the Red Lake power play proficiency.
“It is something that we work on at least three to four times a week,” Walker told Hockey News North. “It can be the difference in a lot of games in terms winning or losing hockey games.”
Walker added that the Miners “look at what each opponent is doing on the penalty kill and try to put a plan in place in terms of our structure. But In the end we like our guys to be creative.
“We put in a structure but after that our guys have full rein to let their skill and imagination take over to make plays. You have to have the horses and dynamic players to run a successful power play,” Walker added.
There are several skaters who are major components to the Red Lake power play and its production rate.
Jordan Baranesky leads the Miners with power play totals of five goals, six assists, 11 points. Next up, Brady Harroun has five goals, four assists, nine points on the PP followed by Noah Kramps with 3-5-8 totals, Nic Bolin at 3-4-7, Lucas Piekarczyk at 3-4-7, defenseman Kenyon Nyman at 1-6-7, Ryan Hunter at 3-3-6 and Jake Parker, also at 3-3-6.
Meanwhile, as play in the SIJHL heads towards 2022, Red Lake is in second place in the standings with a record of 16-3-2.
Brady Harroun is a key cog on the Red Lake power play. (photo by Patrick Boucha)