the SIJHL
Fort Frances wrapped up 2010 on the right note, putting an end to a season-high five-game winless streak as they skated past the expansion Duluth Clydesdales 7-2 on New Year’s Eve at the Heritage Sports Center.
Seven different players supplied two points apiece for the Lakers in the road win.
Phil Jennrich and Zach McCool put the visitors up a pair midway through the first period, only to see Keith Tomassoni notch his fourth of the campaign to make it 2-1 for the Lakers heading into the second stanza.
Davis Smith and Dan Smith added tallies in the middle frame for Fort Frances, putting them up by three after two periods.
Jennrich and McCool both netted their second goals of the game in the third before Jon Sinclair made it 7-1 with nine minutes to go.
Dane Morin added a late marker to round out the scoring.
Byron Katapaytuk, Ryan Wildman, Henry Gutierrez, and Matthew Caulfield all dished out two assists apiece in the triumph.
Tyler Ampe made 34 saves to earn the win for the Lakers, who pumped 29 shots on the Duluth goaltending duo of Jeff Dunaisky and Cody Stocker, who both saw time between the pipes.
The Lakers (20-11-3), tied for third in the SIJHL with the Thunder Bay North Stars at 43 points, will face Duluth again this Friday (Jan. 7) at 7:30 at the Ice For Kids Arena here.
The Clydesdales did rebound, however, sweeping a pair of games against the visiting North Stars on Saturday and Sunday.
Duluth won 7-5 on Jan. 2 after downing Thunder Bay 5-2 on New Year’s Day.
It marked the third-straight loss for Thunder Bay on their road trip south of the border after falling 5-1 to the Wisconsin Wilderness on New Year’s Eve in Spooner.
Wisconsin remains atop the standings with 49 points (23-6-3), with the Dryden Ice Dogs (23-12-0) in second place with 46 points heading into their game last night against the last-place Sioux Lookout Flyers (7-22-4).
Duluth sits in fourth place with 20 points (9-23-2).
In other news, the Sioux Lookout Flyers introduced Kurt Walsten as their new head coach/general manager last Thursday (Dec. 30).
He took over Al MacDonald’s duties effective Jan. 1.
MacDonald will remain with the organization, continuing to assist at the Flyers’ executive level with administration and management.
Walsten comes to the Flyers from the Miramichi Jr. ‘A’ Timberwolves of the Maritime Jr. ‘A’ Hockey League, where he was assistant coach/GM from 2009.
He brings extensive hockey background to the Flyers. He played and coached at the professional level for 15 years, including two years in Sweden.
Walsten coached in the Manitoba Junior Hockey League for two years prior to going to the Maritimes in 2009.
