Joey Payeur
When the welcome mat is rolled out, it’s not usual protocol for the guest of honour to roll it back up and then use it to knock the host flat on their back.
The expansion Thief River Falls Norskies weren’t settling for being passive observers at their kick-off party, though, surprising the three-time defending SIJHL champion Fort Frances Lakers with a 4-2 victory Friday night at the Ice For Kids Arena to open the regular season.
It was supposed to be a night to enjoy the Lakers’ accomplishments of last season, with their regular-season and SIJHL championship banners unveiled to the public for the first time.
Team president Milt Strachan also officially received the CCM-Gary Cook Memorial Award for his efforts, commitment, and contributions to the league.
Instead, the Norskies were the ones leaving the rink with smiles on their faces and their first two points in franchise history.
“We got very sloppy in our zone, especially in the second period,” said Lakers’ head coach and general manager Wayne Strachan.
“We had guys running all over the ice and not playing their positions, and the older guys were maybe trying to do too much,” he noted.
“They took advantage of our breakdowns.”
The first period unfolded according to expectations, with the Lakers controlling the play and getting the opening tally.
Newcomer Ian Jarvis kept the puck on a brief 2-on-1 before zipping a shot stick-side on Norskies’ goalie Ryan Buttazoni at 14:09.
“They had a turnover at the blueline and [Maverick] Lynes made a nice pass to set up the 2-on-1,” noted Jarvis, a 19-year-old from Quesnel, B.C. who had 20 points with the Sicamous Eagles in the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League last season.
Dylan Kooner, the Lakers’ top returning point-getter from last season, made it 2-0 at 3:11 of the second on the power play.
Tyler Malpass fed Jared Virtanen, who spotted Kooner camped out in front, with the forward smacking the puck behind Buttazoni.
The Norskies could have folded at that point—but promptly sent the message that Cinderella was not leaving the ball early.
Peter Grytdahl notched the Norskies’ first-ever regular-season goal at 6:02, pounding a shot from the left point that appeared to change direction going through a maze of players and eluded Lakers’ goalie Brandon Bodnar.
Keaton Huot then redirected Michael Johnson’s shot high over Bodnar on the power play at 12:26 to tie things up.
“We took five bad penalties, at least, and lost two power plays because we took penalties ourselves,” Strachan fumed.
“It’s not about getting a feel for the refs,” he stressed.
“You know what they’re going to call and you must control yourself to acclimate to what’s being called.”
Connor Schuster jammed a shot home from in close to give the Norskies their first lead with 7:40 gone in the third.
The Lakers had plenty of chances to draw even but Buttazoni refused to allow the equalizer in compiling 33 saves.
“The No. 1 star was their goaltender,” said Strachan. “He made a lot of saves at crucial times.
“At 2-0, we probably could have buried him and we didn’t.
“They didn’t quit, stayed in our face, and when they had the opportunity to put the puck in the net, they did,” he added.
David Brennan added an insurance marker at 17:19, converting Huot’s pass past Bodnar (30 saves).
“Brandon had a lot of key saves for us and with the pinball effect in the second, he didn’t really see either goal,” noted Strachan.
“In the third, he had a couple of huge saves to keep us in it.
“But he is still playing deep in his net,” Strachan added.
“He needs to start feeling good about himself and his game, and get to that level we need him to play at.”
Jarvis wasn’t thrilled with the outcome of his first Lakers’ game, but has faith a team riding a three-title run will be heard from in the months to come.
“We didn’t have a very good season in Sicamous last year,” he noted.
“So knowing [the Lakers] were on a three-year run helped me decide to come here and play hard, and do what I can to keep it going.”
Jarvis was one of 13 players suited up who didn’t end the season with the Lakers last year.
Among those are two who just arrived here in the days leading up to the opener.
Nathan Washington, a 20-year-old forward from Coquitlam, B.C., split last season with the North Okanagan Knights (KIJHL) and the Aldergrove Kodiaks of the Pacific International Junior Hockey League.
Also freshly arrived is Jun Yi (Frank) Zhong, an 18-year-old from Surrey, B.C. coming off of two seasons with the Langley Knights (PIJHL).
The pair found room in the lineup with the Lakers missing forwards Jaden Gustafson (one-game suspension) and Jacob Longmore (concussion), defencemen Matt Bruinsma (upper-body) and Bryce Patterson (wrist), and goalie Billy Gorn (groin).
Strachan expected Bruinsma to be back in time for last night’s home game against the English River Miners.
Longmore is close to returning while Gorn’s timeline for a return is uncertain.
Patterson, meanwhile, is out for about four more weeks.
Gorn’s injury has Strachan treading water with his goaltending conundrum, as he still has four on his roster in Bodnar, Gorn, Ryan Wagner, and Dylan Ossachuk.
“Until Billy’s healthy, we’ll stay with four because I want him to have the opportunity to show what he can do,” Strachan said regarding the 19-year-old from Edmonton.
“Ryan has played well in the games he has been in and Dylan’s play in the pre-season has made the decision even tougher,” he admitted.
“I have not figured it out just yet but we have to do something with them soon.”
The Lakers next will host the Thunder Bay North Stars this weekend for a rare Saturday-Sunday doubleheader.
The first game is at 7:30 p.m., with the second one featuring a special start time of 4:45 p.m.
