Lucas Punkari
While it’s still early in the 2011-12 SIJHL season, the Fort Frances Lakers are staring down at the other six teams after a pair of weekend wins.
The Lakers wrapped up a stretch of three games in three nights with a 6-2 victory over the Duluth Clydesdales last night, which went along with their 6-3 comeback triumph over the Wisconsin Wilderness at the Ice For Kids Arena here Friday night.
The squad’s lone blemish on their weekend was a 2-1 loss to those same Wilderness on Saturday night in Spooner.
The Lakers now sport a 4-2 record, with their eight points putting them two ahead of the Wilderness.
Jordan Larson led the way in last night’s win over the Clydesdales, notching a goal and four assists.
That gave the first-year forward 13 points so far in the campaign to lead the entire SIJHL in scoring.
Wayne Folster scored once and added two assists while Ryan Wildman had a pair of goals versus Duluth.
Marty McFadden and Brett McMahon also tallied for the Lakers.
Tyler Ampe made 28 saves to earn the win.
On Friday night, it looked as if the Lakers would fall to the visiting Wilderness as they trailed 3-0 after two periods, although the score could have been worse than that.
But as soon as the puck dropped to start the third, the hosts roared to life with six unanswered goals to steal the victory.
Rookie forward Ben Michaud had a pair of goals to fuel the comeback while Larson was the top point-getter with a goal and two assists.
McFadden, Henry Gutierrez, and Adam Wensley also scored in the third period, with Wensley’s goal proving to be the game-winner.
Zach Blaisdell, Hunter Scott, and Danny Bartkowiak replied for the Wilderness, who suffered their first loss of the season.
The lone setback of the weekend came Saturday night as the Lakers were with held to just 14 shots in the 2-1 loss to Wisconsin.
After falling behind 1-0 after 40 minutes, Folster knotted the score with less than five-and-a-half minutes to go.
But Blaisdell gave the Wilderness the lead back for good just 23 seconds later.
The Lakers won’t be in action again until next Tuesday (Oct. 4), when they’ll get their first glimpse at the expansion Iron Range Ironheads in a 7:30 p.m. clash at the Ice For Kids Arena.
