Joey Payeur
Nolan and Davis Ross didn’t like being apart for the first time in their hockey lives.
So now that they’re back together, they’re going to keep it that way.
The Fort Frances Lakers announced today the 21-year-old local twins have signed commitments to play for the WCHA’s St. Scholastica Saints in Duluth, Mn. this fall.
“We are extremely pleased as this now makes five of our graduating 20-year-olds that are now committed to furthering their academic and hockey goals,” Lakers’ head coach and general manager Wayne Strachan in an e-mail.
“We will have more announcements in the next few days, as well, but our program is very proud of this graduating class and all they have accomplished,” he added.
The brothers have played their entire hockey careers together until Nolan was dealt by the Portage Terriers (MJHL) to his hometown Lakers at the CJHL trade deadline in January, 2015.
The brothers were reunited in Portage after last season, then were shipped together to the Virden Oil Capitals (MJHL) before both being acquired by Strachan at the trade deadline this past season.
“Nolan was an integral part of two [SIJHL] championships and teams that won a total of 89 games,” noted Strachan.
“He was a solid two-way guy for us and someone we could count on game in and game out,” he added.
“We were happy to have Nolan return home to help our program both years, and further help us reach our goals as an organization.”
Strachan, meanwhile, called Davis “a huge pickup for us at the trade deadline this season.”
“He came in and made our team significantly better on our back end, as well as being an offensive threat from the blueline,” he remarked.
“He scored some highlight-reel goals on the power play and in shootouts, and helped us solidify another [SIJHL] championship in Fort Frances.
“Both of these young men have strong character traits, and the organization wishes them the best of luck in their future endeavours and with the Saints,” Strachan added.
