Staff
The Fort Frances Lakers concluded their regular season on a winning note Saturday night with a 4-3 victory over the visiting Thunder Bay North Stars.
With overtime looming, Lakers’ forward Henry Gutierrez took a feed from captain Blake Boaz and slid the puck past North Stars’ goalie Carter McEachern with only 11 seconds to go.
Boaz, Brett McMahon, and Jordan Christianson also scored for the Lakers.
SIJHL player-of-the-year recipient Byron Katapaytuk and blueliner Connor Hady each had a pair of assists.
Thanks to his two-point night, Katapaytuk also captured the SIJHL’s scoring title.
His 85 points in 52 games was one better than Sioux Lookout Flyers’ forward Anthony Wolfe.
Kyle Lapenskie, Travis Tilley, and Brandon Wolframe replied for the North Stars.
The Lakers finished the regular season in second place in the seven-team SIJHL, compiling a 37-12-7 record for 81 points.
The red-and-white now are preparing for a pair of two-game, total-goal mini-series versus the regular-season champion Wisconsin Wilderness.
That winner will earn the right to choose their opponent for the semi-finals.
The first two-game series will take place this Friday and Saturday at 7 p.m. in Spooner, Wis.
The second series is set for Friday, March 9 and Saturday, March 10 at 7:30 p.m. at the Ice For Kids Arena here.
