Lucas Punkari
Given the fact they’ve played each other in the last two post-seasons, it’s only appropriate that the Fort Frances Lakers and Dryden Ice Dogs are about to square off yet again.
The two SIJHL rivals will clash in the best-of-seven semi-finals, with Game 1 going here tonight at 7:30 p.m. at the Ice For Kids Arena.
“We knew that with whoever we were going to face in the semis that it was going to be an intense series,” said Lakers’ forward Brett McMahon.
“These next few games are going to be some pretty good games, I think, and for us to be successful, we are just going to need to come out and work hard,” he stressed.
After winning a dramatic 1 vs. 2 “showdown” series against the Wisconsin Wilderness here last Saturday, the Lakers earned the right to choose their opponent for the semi-finals.
They opted to face the fourth-ranked Ice Dogs, who eliminated the Sioux Lookout Flyers in five games in their quarter-final series.
The Ice Dogs have ousted the Lakers in the semi-finals the previous two season, with both series having gone six games.
The Lakers held the advantage during the regular season, winning six of the 10 head-to-head match-ups.
“I think that the first two games of this series will be the most crucial,” said Lakers’ goalie Tyler Ampe.
“Having the home-ice advantage to start off, I think, is going to be a huge thing for us,” he noted.
“And if we are able to win those games, I think we could be in control of the series.”
Game 2 goes tomorrow (March 17) at 7:30 p.m. at the Ice For Kids Arena, with Games 3 and 4 being held in Dryden on Tuesday and Wednesday (March 20-21).
Game 5, if necessary, will be held here next Friday night, with a sixth game going Sunday, March 25 back in Dryden.
Should a seventh and deciding game be needed, it is scheduled for Tuesday, March 27 at 7:30 p.m. at the Ice For Kids Arena.
The other SIJHL semi-final series also is slated to get underway tonight in Spooner, Wis. as the regular-season champion Wisconsin Wilderness take on this year’s Dudley Hewitt Cup hosts in the Thunder Bay North Stars.
That series also is a rematch from a year ago, which the Wilderness won in four-straight en route to their first SIJHL title.
