Red Lake Miners

The Red Lake Miners are a Canadian junior 'A' ice hockey team based in Red Lake, Ontario. The Miners play in Hockey Canada's Superior International Junior Hockey League.

Red Lake Miners
CityRed Lake, Ontario, Canada
LeagueSuperior International Junior Hockey League
Founded2013
Home arenaCochenour Arena
ColoursBlack, yellow, and white
General managerGeoff Walker[1] (2019–20)
Head coachGeoff Walker (2019–20)
Franchise history
2013–2018English River Miners
2018–presentRed Lake Miners

History

In May 2013, the SIJHL announced that the Ear Falls Eagles would be joining the league for the 2013–14 season.[2] Weeks later, it was announced that the team would instead be called the English River Miners to better represent the entire community.[3]

On September 20, 2013, the Miners played the first game in their franchise's history in Dryden, Ontario, against the Dryden Ice Dogs. The Miners lost 4–2 after giving up two last minute goals, one of which was on an empty net. Nathan Johnson scored the first goal in team history 6:06 into the first period.[4] Greg Harney played the first game in net, making 32 saves. On October 10, 2013, the Miners picked up their first franchise victory, on home ice, defeating the Wisconsin Wilderness by a score of 3–1.[5] Devan Vander Wyk scored the eventual game-winning goal 3:47 into the third period, while Holden Melgoza made 29 saves for the victory.[6]

After finishing last in the SIJHL in their second season, Derek Sweet-Coulter was named head coach for Miners in 2015.[7] One season later, the English River Miners moved to Red Lake, Ontario, with the Cochenour Arena as their home ice. In August 2018, the team rebranded as the Red Lake Miners.[8][9] Sweet-Coulter led the Miners for four seasons before leaving to coach for the Merritt Centennials of the British Columbia Hockey League after winning the SIJHL Coach of the Year in 2019.[10][11]

Former professional hockey player Geoff Walker was then hired as general manager and head coach for the 2019–20 season.[12] Walker came to Red Lake after one season leading the Hinton Wildcats in the Western States Hockey League to a 23–19–1–2 record in that team's only season.

Season-by-season records
SeasonGPWLOTL SOLPtsGFGAResultsPlayoffs
2013–145621294 0471852284th of 6Won quarterfinals, 2–4 vs Dryden Ice Dogs
Lost semifinals, 0–4 vs Fort Frances Lakers
2014–155610415 0251592955th of 5Lost quarterfinals, 0–3 vs Thunder Bay North Stars
2015–165612373 4311442395th of 5Won quarterfinals, 3–2 vs Minnesota Iron Rangers
Lost semifinals, 0–4 vs Fort Frances Lakers
2016–175631211 3662201973rd of 6Won semifinals 4–1 vs Thunder Bay North Stars
Lost league finals, 0–4 vs Dryden Ice Dogs
2017–185628231 4611882094th of 6Lost quarterfinals, 1–3 vs Fort Frances Lakers
2018–195638153 0792781932nd of 6Won semifinals, 4–1 vs Thief River Falls Norskies
Lost league finals, 1–4 vs Thunder Bay North Stars
2019–205532183 2691961762nd of 6Season cancelled due to COVID-19[13]

References
  1. "MINERS HIRE NEW HEAD COACH/GM". Red Lake Miners. 16 June 2019.
  2. "Ear Falls, Red Lake franchise joins SIJHL". TBNewswatch. May 9, 2013. Retrieved 16 August 2018.
  3. "Ear Falls SIJHL team update". Kenora Online. May 29, 2013.
  4. "English River Miners at Dryden GM Ice Dogs". SIJHL. September 20, 2013.
  5. "Wisconsin Wilderness at English River Miners". SIJHL. October 10, 2013.
  6. "Archived copy". October 10, 2013. Archived from the original on 6 June 2014. Retrieved 11 October 2013.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  7. "Miners hire new bench boss". KenoraOnline. May 25, 2015.
  8. "Introducing the SIJHL Red Lake Miners". Netnewsledger.com. August 9, 2018.
  9. "SIJHL's English River Miners change team name". TBNewswatch. August 9, 2018.
  10. "Former Red Lake coach heads west". 89.5 The Lake. July 17, 2019.
  11. "Change in coaching staff for the Merritt Centennials". Merritt Herald. October 16, 2019.
  12. "Red Lake Miners hire hew Head Coach/GM". CKDR. June 18, 2019.
  13. "CJHL announces official cancellation for remainder of 2019-20 season". Canadian Junior Hockey League. March 13, 2020.
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