Joey Payeur
The Fort Frances Lakers got thoroughly outplayed on home ice and suffered a defeat that has them on the brink of the end of the their three-year run as SIJHL champs.
Still, that wasn’t the worst loss they suffered over the weekend.
The organization was shaken by the news Lakers’ assistant general manager and assistant coach Grant Perreault, 40, passed away Saturday afternoon after a lengthy battle with cancer.
The team was informed of Perreault’s passing just before Game 3 of their best-of-seven semi-final against the Dryden GM Ice Dogs at the Ice For Kids Arena, and they looked to have feet as heavy as their hearts as the visitors rolled to a 5-1 win to grab a 3-0 series lead.
Dryden, which has been eliminated the past four seasons by the Lakers, can finish the sweep with a victory in Game 3 here tomorrow at 7:30 p.m.
“It was pretty hard to go out and play that game,” admitted Lakers’ forward Jared Virtanen.
“We at the SIJHL send our deepest and heartfelt condolences to Grant’s family, friends, the entire Fort Frances Lakers’ organization, and Grant’s close friend, Lakers’ head coach and GM Wayne Strachan,” SIJHL commissioner Bryan Graham said in a press release.
“Grant was an inspiration to all that knew him, his community, and his team,” Graham added.
“He will certainly be missed.”
Virtanen assisted on Dylan’s Kooner goal 38 seconds into the second period to give the Lakers some brief life by making it 2-1 after SIJHL MVP Braeden Allkins scored twice within 1:44 in the first for the Ice Dogs.
Cory Dennis notched a power-play goal at 7:44 of the second before Braedyn Aubin made it 4-1 at 11:22.
Allkins completed his hat trick with a man-advantage marker at 4:14 of the third, with Patrick Zubick making 26 stops to earn the victory.
Brandon Bodnar made 36 saves in getting tagged with the loss.
Once again, the Lakers’ own power-play unit continued to be a non-factor–going 0-for-9 in the game and just 2-for-22 in the series.
Forward Dawson Waddell played in his second-straight game after returning in Game 2 from a knee injury that had kept him out since Feb. 12.
The other semi-final saw the Thunder Bay North Stars dump the visiting English River Miners 9-2 in Game 2 last night to even that series at 1-1.
Brad Arabia had five goals to carry the North Stars, who lost 5-3 in Game 1 on Saturday.
The series now moves to Red Lake for Game 3 on Wednesday.
