Joey Payeur
It’s only the preseason but the Fort Frances Lakers seem to be back to their familiar winning ways of a season ago.
Alex Rezansoff scored on the power-play with 2:35 left to cap a three-goal rally in the third that lifted the Lakers to a 4-3 victory over the host Minnesota Iron Rangers on Tuesday night.
“We showed good character tonight [by] staying disciplined and working hard to come from behind to have success,” Lakers’ head coach and general manager Wayne Strachan said in an interview with Junior Hockey Network.
“I thought the second period was our best in the three games so far,” he noted.
“We controlled the play, pressured well, and caused many turnovers because of it.”
The Lakers, who beat Minnesota 6-3 in their pre-season opener here last Friday, went 3-for-7 with the man advantage Tuesday night.
The squad has won all three of its exhibition outings so far as it prepares to defend its hold on the Bill Salonen Cup.
Despite playing without forwards Matt Vela, Colton Spicer, and Carter Chorney due to illness, the Lakers led 1-0 after 40 minutes on Aaron Wesley-Chisel’s second goal of the pre-season.
Bowen Alcock and Bryson Jasper drew the assists.
The third was a tale of two periods, with the Rangers
owning the first 10 minutes and the Lakers dominating the last 10.
Jason Reynolds’ power-play marker just 41 seconds in tied the game before Evan Erickson gave Minnesota its first lead of the night at 3:39.
Seth Chumley added another at 9:19 to give the Rangers a 3-1 lead and a seemingly clear path to the victory.
But Mason Meyer put the Lakers back on track at 11:10 with the man advantage on a set-up from Nic Proulx and Nick Scherbinin.
Noah Anderson of the Rangers then let his temper get the best of him as he unsuccessfully tried to engage a Laker into a fight—only to wind up with an instigator minor, a fighting major, and a game misconduct.
The extended power-play was exactly what Fort Frances needed as Jasper tied the game at 13:53, with Meyer and Proulx assisting.
Rezansoff then completed the comeback on a set-up from Robbie Bonthron at 17:25 for his team-leading fifth goal of the pre-season.
The Lakers ended the game with only 13 skaters as Brandon Janveau (fighting) and Ryan Reeves (checking from behind) each received majors and game misconducts in the first period.
Alcock received his own fighting major and game misconduct in the third.
The Lakers are in Marathon tonight for a pre-season tilt with the Dryden Ice Dogs.
It will double as a tribute game to former Laker Jaret LeClair and three other members of the Pic River First Nation who were killed in a car accident in October, 2012.
Proceeds from the game will go towards the building of a memorial at the accident site.
The Lakers actually travelled to Marathon yesterday and spent today at the Pic River Elementary School, where they helped out with reading and phys. ed. classes.
