Staff
Ryan Gazich drilled the game-winner at 2:54 of overtime to give the Fort Frances Lakers a long-awaited 3-2 triumph over the visiting Thunder Bay North Stars on Friday night.
Combined with Saturday night’s 6-5 win over host English River, the Lakers (16-14-2-3) have vaulted past the Miners (15-16-1-3) into fourth place in the SIJHL.
And they’re just four points back of the third-place Thief River Falls Norskies (18-14-2-3) while holding two games in hand.
Before Friday’s game, the Lakers were winless in seven tries this season (0-5-0-2) against the second-place North Stars (24-10-3), including a 6-1 thumping two nights earlier in Thunder Bay.
But Jack Bernie (power play) and Ian Jarvis had the Lakers up 2-0 after the first period.
Brad Arabia tallied just 14 seconds into the middle frame, then John Parrott tied it at 7:56 of the third, before Gazich found tallied on a setup from Jarvis.
Brandon Bodnar won his third-straight start with a 41-save effort while Nathaniel Dupuis (32 stops) took the loss.
Bodnar did not have as enjoyable an evening Saturday–getting the hook only 11:48 into the game after yielding four goals on just eight shots.
Jared Janke bulged the twine 57 seconds before Braeden Pearce recorded a hat trick in a span of 3:18 that only was broken up by Matt Tustin’s power-play marker.
Jessie Heisz came on in relief and was brilliant the rest of the way with 32 saves to hold his team in the game.
That allowed Jared Virtanen to put the Lakers on his back as he posted a hat trick with a first-period goal and two more in the second to tie the score at 4-4.
Then after Dawson Waddell gave the Lakers their first lead early in the third, Dante Raposo netted the equalizer for the Miners just 36 seconds later.
But Connor Keith ended up playing the hero as Virtanen and Dylan Kooner set up the defenceman at 8:14 for the team’s third man-advantage goal of the game.
Lakers’ defenceman Brandon Zajicek returned to the lineup Saturday following a three-game suspension from the SIJHL for a cross-checking major and game misconduct he picked up Jan. 13 against Thief River Falls.
Forwards Austin Petrie (ankle) and Tanner Garnham (upper-body) remain out indefinitely.
The Lakers next head to Thief River Falls for the annual SIJHL “Showcase,” which will see a host of scouts from the junior, college, and pro ranks on hand to evaluate all six SIJHL teams.
They’ll face the last-place Minnesota Iron Rangers (6-26-2) tomorrow, then will go up against the host Norskies on Wednesday.
The Lakers don’t play at home again until Feb. 3 against English River.
