Staff
The Fort Frances Lakers shook up their roster in a major way yesterday afternoon, trading goalie Talor Joseph, defenceman Jon Carlson, and forward Colton Spicer to the MJHL’s Portage Terriers.
In return, the Lakers acquired twin forwards Bryce and Lyndon Lipinski, in addition to receiving a player development fee.
“This was a situation where the three players leaving wanted to be traded,” noted Lakers’ head coach and general manager Wayne Strachan.
“It’s not something that we wanted to do,” he added.
“But in the end, we feel that we have acquired two players that will make an impact on our team next season and it puts us in a situation to possibly make some more moves to strengthen our team,” Strachan said.
Joseph, who joined the Lakers from the AJHL’s Olds Grizzlys midway through last season, posted a 10-2 record and a 2.74 GAA during the regular season.
Then in the post-season, the 18-year-old had a 16-8 record and a 2.70 GAA to help the Lakers earn their second-straight trip to the SIJHL final.
Carlson, a 19-year-old from Fort Frances, suited up for his home-town team for the last two seasons, compiling 51 points in 105 regular-season games.
Spicer, an 18-year-old from here, netted 76 points in 84 games over the course of two campaigns, earning the SIJHL’s Most Improved Player award this past season.
His tenure with the team came to an unceremonious end just prior to the start of the playoffs, however, following an undisclosed incident at a practice
Joining the Lakers are the 20-year-old Lipinski twins, who played for the Terriers last season after starting their Junior ‘A’ careers with the NOJHL’s North Bay Trappers in 2011-12.
Bryce was tied for second in team scoring with 41 points in 59 games while Lyndon had 29 points in 53 games.
