Staff
It was a mood of good cheer in the Fort Frances Lakers’ dressing room last night as the squad celebrated its third-straight victory in its final game before the Christmas break.
After allowing the first goal to the visiting Iron Range Ironheads, the red-and-white dominated the rest of the way, scoring six unanswered goals en route to the 6-1 triumph.
A four-goal outburst during a six-minute span in the first period set the Lakers well on their way to the victory.
Ryan Wildman, Byron Katapaytuk, Adam Wensley, and Bryan Broders all hit the twine during the opening stanza.
The line of Lakers’ captain Blake Boaz, Jaret Leclair, and Merritt Rysavy then rounded out the scoring.
Boaz lit the lamp following feeds from his linemates early in the second and the third periods to help his team extend a lead it would not relinquish.
Wensley and Broders also had two-points nights while goalie Tanner Hamilton turned aside 27 shots to earn the win.
With last night’s win, the Lakers (22-8-4) head into the Christmas break 48 points, good enough for second place in the SIJHL standings seven points back of the defending league champion Wisconsin Wilderness.
The Lakers return to action next Wednesday (Dec. 28) when they head to Thunder Bay for a clash with the third-place North Stars.
The squad then will hold its annual exhibition contest against the Fort Frances Thunderhawks on Thursday, Dec. 29 at 7:30 p.m. at the Ice For Kids Arena.
