Joey Payeur
There are 25 players in Fort Frances who this week won an all-expenses’ paid trip to the Dudley Hewitt Cup tournament.
OK, so maybe the expenses won’t exactly be in the upper stratosphere since the Cup will be contested here in Fort Frances next spring.
That being said, the excitement level still projects to be fairly high for the seven returnees and 18 newcomers who were chosen Monday as part of this year’s Fort Frances Lakers’ squad that will shoot for a second-straight SIJHL title.
The Lakers also have an automatic berth in the Dudley Hewitt Cup, the Central Canadian Junior ‘A’ hockey championship, as the host team.
Third-year Laker and Geraldton product Miles Nolan will serve as captain this season—a fitting choice after the forward’s playoff efforts this past spring garnered him the Gongshow Gear playoff MVP award.
Other returnees at the forward position include another third-year Laker, Mason Meyer, who had a brilliant campaign a year ago to be named the SIJHL’s most improved player while finishing in the top five in goals, assists, and points.
Rainy River product Bryson Jasper and Fort Frances native Colton Spicer bring more championship experience at the forward spot to the table after being part of last year’s team.
Among the newcomers up front, Alex Rezansoff seems primed to make the biggest impact after joining the Lakers following the off-season folding of the Wisconsin Wilderness, who finished last in the SIJHL last season.
Rezansoff, who hails from Red Wing, Mn., led the team with six goals during the pre-season.
A pleasant surprise came in the form of 17-year-old forward Jarred Taylor, who helped the Muskies to the NorWOSSA crown and a quarter-final appearance at OFSAA last year.
But he is foregoing his final year of high school eligibility to try his hand at the Junior ‘A’ level after catching the eye of the Lakers’ coaching staff during training camp.
The other forwards on the Lakers’ roster include Tristan Salesse (Terrace Bay), Josh Brunton (Dryden), Dylan Kooner (Abbotsford, B.C.), Matt Vela (Burnaby, B.C.), Blue Hayler (Missoula, Mont.), Bowen Alcock (Kenora), Jake Holland (Maple Ridge, B.C.), and Carter Chorney (Rainy River).
On defence, Aaron Wesley-Chisel is the only familiar face back this season.
Among those joining him will be another black-and-gold alumnus in Fort resident Josh Gouin, who graduated from the Muskie program after last season.
The other defencemen include George Roblin (Winnipeg), Max Kaercher (Anchorage, Ala.), Brandon Janveau (Manitouwadge), Robbie Bonthron (Kaministiquia), and Ryan Reeves (Moseley, Va.)
Between the pipes, Lakers’ general manager and head coach Wayne Strachan will follow last year’s blueprint and go with three netminders.
Returnees Devin Tappenden (Markham) appears to have the starter’s job locked up.
That leaves former Muskie and second-year Laker Ryan Ferguson (Atikokan), as well as newcomer Stirling Wright (Reddick, Fla.), to duel for the back-up role.
The Lakers open the SIJHL regular-season here tomorrow night against the Thunder Bay North Stars, with game time at 7:30 p.m. at the Ice For Kids Arena.
The squad then travels to Hoyt Lakes on Sunday to face the Minnesota Iron Rangers.
