Joey Payeur
Coming off two losses in their last three games, the Fort Frances Lakers yesterday announced a series of roster moves.
Forward A.J. Rupert, a 20-year-old from North Oaks, Mn., was acquired from the Kirkland Lake Gold Miners (NOJHL) for a player development fee.
Rupert had four goals and two assists in 20 games with Kirkland Lake this season, along with 10 minutes in penalties.
“He will add scoring depth, speed, and skill to the lineup,” Lakers’ head coach and general manager Wayne Strachan said about Rupert, who is familiar to SIJHL fans after having played the last two seasons with the Minnesota Iron Rangers.
Rupert may arrive in time for the Lakers’ trip to Hoyt Lakes tonight to face his former team.
Also joining the Lakers’ fold is another NOJHL forward in Jason Wilson, who was picked up from the Elliot Lake Wildcats for a player development fee.
Wilson, a 20-year-old from Ottawa, had two goals and nine assists in 19 games with the Wildcats, along with six penalty minutes.
“Jason will bring leadership, experience, depth, [and]
secondary scoring, and [is] a player who can play a shutdown role,” noted Strachan.
Wilson is expected here Friday and likely will be in the lineup when the Lakers visit the English River Miners on Saturday night.
Meanwhile, cleaning out their lockers are two forwards and one defenceman—the latter of which may get a chance to say hello to his old teammates tonight.
Blueliner Isaiah Olschewske was dealt to Minnesota for a player development fee.
The 19-year-old from Buffalo had two goals and five assists in 20 games for the Lakers after joining the team in the pre-season from the Richmond Renegades of the United States Premier Hockey League.
Also getting released were Franco Colapaolo and Francois Lemelin.
Colapaolo, a 19-year-old from Calgary, had one goal and two assists in 12 games with the Lakers after coming on board part-way through the season from the Comox Valley Glacier Kings of the Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League.
Lemelin, 19, a native of Petawawa, also had a goal and two assists in 17 games with the Lakers.
He came to the team during the off-season from the Kindersley Klippers (SJHL).
