A pair of Couchiching cousins will make their debut with the Fort Frances Lakers this season, bringing front-line firepower they displayed last season as players for the International Falls High School Broncos.
The addition of William and Anthony Yerxa was announced by the Junior A hockey team at a ceremony on Couchiching First Nation on Sunday. Both forwards played for the International Falls High School Broncos last year and saw great success, both finishing as Top 10 point scorers in the Minnesota Class 1A division.
Anthony scored 48 goals and notched 48 assists to lead the division in scoring, while William had 35 goals and 45 assists.
Lakers Head Coach and GM Luke Judson said he likes that the team is adding elite talent to play close to home.
“Anthony was the highest-scoring player in Minnesota high school hockey last season,” Judson said. “He has a rare combination of size, physicality and scoring ability that makes him a threat every time he’s on the ice. It’s been a pleasure to watch him grow as a person and player, and I’m looking forward to seeing him play in front of his hometown fans.”
Of William, Judson said he admires his creativity on offence.
“It’s exciting to be able to continue adding elite local talent to our roster,” Judson added. “Willy was one of the highest-scoring players in Minnesota high school hockey last season. He has elite creativity and instincts that can’t be taught. The Yerxas will be excellent ambassadors for the Lakers, Fort Frances, and Couchiching First Nation.”
On taking the next step in hockey with the Lakers, Anthony said he’s happy to be able to stick close to home.
“Oh yeah, it feels pretty good,” he said. “We get to play in front of our family and stay home. It’ll be fun.”
For William, the hope is to be able to take the next step and improve his game.
“[The goal] is getting better,” he said. “The game is getting faster, so we’ve got more competition, and hopefully we can show what we can do.”
The Lakers have also announced the addition of goaltender Ethan Mann, who played last year in the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League.
Judson hopes Mann, originally from Lethbridge, Alta., can bolster the team’s prospects between the pipes.
“Ethan played an excellent preseason game against us as a Thunder Bay North Star last year before returning to the KIJHL,” Judson said. “I’m looking forward to seeing him return to the SIJHL to prove himself at the Junior A level. Our goalies were critical in our success last season, and I’m confident Ethan and (previously announced goalie) Dom McInenly will continue the standard we’ve set of great goaltending in Fort Frances.”
On Tuesday, the team announced the addition of defender Cole Dowling, who joins the Lakers from the New Brunswick/PEI Major U18 league.
Judson said Dowling should help secure the defensive core of the team.
“Cole’s compete level was immediately evident while watching him play,” Judson said. “Cole plays fearlessly and defends hard. He plays simple, old-school hockey that is sometimes lost in the modern game. Cole will be a great addition to a strong defensive group that will be hard to score against every night.”
Following a Lakers summer skate on Monday evening, Judson said there are still a few holes left to fill.
“It’s kind of similar to last year, where it’s been a slow summer, but August seems to be when guys start coming available,” Judson said. “We’re going to be in a good spot. The returning guys we have, I’m confident in. They’re guys that a lot of them were leaders last year, and we’ll expect them to take another jump and do the same. But at the same time, you need young talent coming in to hold their own and play a role and do their job.”
“That’s why we had a lot of success last year. So we’ll be looking for guys that are ready for junior, that are ready to work, and so far we’re off to a good start. But we still probably have three or four holes on forward and a couple holes on defence yet. But all in all, we’re pretty happy with where we’re at.”
The Lakers will be hosting the beer garden this weekend at the Rainy River Valley Agricultural Society Fall Fair in Emo.
Registration is also open for the Lakers hockey camp that will take place in Emo, open to all players U7-U13. For more information, see the Lakers Facebook page.
The Lakers will also host the second of their two annual golf tournaments on Saturday, Sept. 12 at Heron Landing Golf Course. Registration for a foursome is $700, and you can do so by calling Heron Landing at 807-274-5678.
The Lakers will open the 2026-27 SIJHL regular season on September 18-19 when they will renew hostilities against the Thunder Bay North Stars, who beat them in overtime in Game 7 of last year’s Bill Salonen Cup finals. Tickets are already available online for the opening weekend series.
