The Fort Frances Lakers will look to break a 10-year Bill Salonen Cup drought tonight at a sold-out Ice for Kids Arena in a Game 7 final that promises to either be a dramatic end to the team’s stellar season or a ticket-punch to the Centennial Cup, Canada’s National Junior A Championship.
The Lakers have noted on social media that presale tickets have sold out online and at Northwoods Gallery and Gifts, but the team has reserved a limited number of 100 tickets for the first people through the door at the Memorial Sports Complex tonight. A sold-out IFK will hold just over 1,300 fans.
The Lakers have struggled at home in the finals, losing each of their three home games so far, and are looking for a return to the form that saw them lose only a single game at home during the regular season.
The Lakers looked almost unstoppable in Game 6 against the Thunder Bay North Stars at the Fort William Gardens in Thunder Bay and only struggled once they ran into penalty trouble in the third period.
Lakers’ goalie Brady Cates, the Superior International Junior Hockey League (SIJHL) MVP and Rookie of the Year recipient, was recently named a candidate for the Canadian Junior Hockey League’s Rookie of the Year honour. He will look to continue his winning ways.
Fort Frances native Teagan Wrolstad still leads the team in playoff scoring with five goals and six assists, while Nick Fagnilli of Thunder Bay leads the goal race with six after a two-goal performance in Game 6.
After the last game, head coach Luke Judson said it’s the team’s veterans who will need to step up and power the Lakers to the championship.
“Your best players need to be your best players, and I thought our leaders, our 20-year-olds, our veterans, all stepped up in a big way, not just on the ice but on the bench,” Judson said.
“They’re keeping guys calm. They got a couple at the end, and I didn’t have to say much. The guys were there for each other and kept the bench calm, and we were in the driver’s seat. It helped finish the job.”
The Lakers have encouraged the community to “paint the town purple” ahead of the game, and local schools have encouraged students to show their support by wearing purple in support of the team.
Puck drop is scheduled for 7:15 p.m. Central Time, but anyone going down to the stadium will want to get there plenty early to ensure a good seat. Ontario Provincial Police will be on hand at the Sports Centre to assist with crowd control.
If you haven’t managed to secure tickets, Flint House has announced a watch party at their restaurant starting at 7 p.m. featuring a special Lakers-themed cocktail. Boston Pizza will also be hosting a watch party.
Those preferring to watch from the comfort of their own home can do so through SIJHL.tv, which has a one-game rate available for Game 7. The Fort Frances Times will have more shortly after the final buzzer with in-depth coverage in the April 29 edition of the Fort Frances Times.
A win will grant the Lakers a berth in this year’s Centennial Cup, a 10‑day national championship featuring champions from across the CJHL hosted by the Summerside Western Capitals of the Maritime Junior Hockey League. It takes place at Consolidated Credit Union Place in Summerside, P.E.I., from May 7 to 17.
