Staff
To those ready to bury the Fort Frances Lakers this season, it may be time to put the shovels away.
The three-time defending SIJHL champs extended their season-high winning streak to five games with a pair of road victories over the weekend.
The Lakers earned a wild 6-5 overtime victory Friday night against the Dryden GM Ice Dogs, then followed that with a 3-1 win Saturday over the expansion Thief River Falls Norskies.
“We have definitely come a long way with our compete level and defensive game,” noted head coach and general manager Wayne Strachan.
“We are finally learning that puck possession is key and making safe plays helps with that process.”
Dylan Kooner completed a hat trick with the game-winner at 1:38 of overtime against second-place Dryden.
He was set up by Jared Virtanen, who had two assists in his return to the lineup since missing four games after separating his shoulder Oct. 28 against the Thunder Bay North Stars.
The Lakers (7-8-1-2), who battled back from four different deficits, also got goals from Dawson Waddell (two) and Maverick Lynes.
Jaden Gustafson and Tyler Malpass each added two assists while Ryan Wagner made 28 saves as the Lakers beat the Ice Dogs for the first time in three tries this season.
Trey Palermo had a pair of goals for the Ice Dogs (14-3-3), who only had 14 skaters due to three players sitting out suspensions for various infractions committed in Dryden’s game Nov. 20 against Thief River Falls.
Meanwhile, it was a stellar debut for new Lakers’ goalie Dakota Delbridge on Saturday as the 19-year-old from Tracy, Calif. made 40 saves against the Norskies.
Delbridge was picked up last week as a free agent after playing just two games as the No. 3-goalie with the Flin Flon Bombers (SJHL) this season, where he posted a 3.47 GAA and .846 save percentage.
The Lakers tried to ease his transition by firing 49 shots on the Norskies’ net, including 26 in the first period— both season highs for the team.
Virtanen and Waddell (power play) each had a goal and an assist while Kooner’s empty-netter sealed the deal with 12 seconds to go in the Lakers’ first-ever game at the Ralph Englestad Arena in Thief River Falls.
Michael Johnson had the lone goal for the fourth-place Norskies (7-8-1-2), who now lead the Fort by just two points, with the Lakers holding three games in hand.
The Lakers will look to extend their winning streak to six on Wednesday when they visit the first-place Thunder Bay North Stars (15-5-2).
They’re the only team the Lakers haven’t beaten yet this season, although two of the four losses were via a shootout.
The Lakers’ next home game is set for Friday at 7:30 p.m. against Dryden.
