Staff
Those who like their SIJHL hockey with a healthy dash of suspense mixed in got their fill when it came to the Fort Frances Lakers over the weekend.
First, affiliate player Matthew Glomba scored with 12 seconds left in regulation time to give the Lakers a 3-2 victory over the host Thunder Bay North Stars on Friday.
Then the following night at the Ice For Kids Arena here, Julian Uhryniuk tallied 2:57 into overtime to cap a 5-4 win over the Dryden GM Ice Dogs.
Glomba filled in at forward while his younger brother, Travis, suited up on defence for a Lakers’ team that could open its own hospital wing right now.
Eight players were absent Friday due to injury or illness, which meant the siblings brought up from the Thunder Bay Stars (Thunder Bay Junior ‘B’ Hockey League) got starring roles.
The lights weren’t too bright for either one, though, with Matthew playing on a patchwork top line with Dylan Robertson and Andrew Willner,
He converted Robertson’s late-game feed past North Stars’ goalie Riley Corbin for the game-winner.
Willner and Nick Minerva (power play) had the other goals for Fort Frances (43-8-0-2).
Pierce Dushenko made 37 saves to earn the win.
Forward Cole Tymkin (hand) and defenceman Brandon Zajicek (illness) were back in the Lakers’ lineup Saturday, which turned into an episode of “Ripley’s Believe it or Not.”
That would be Christian Ripley, who torched goalie Taylor Unruh for all four Lakers’ goals in regulation time, including a natural hat trick spanning the first and second periods.
But despite trailing 4-2 in the third, Dryden refused to roll over.
Tanner Watt sliced into the lead at 11:39 before Kent Walchuk tied the score with only 1:02 to go.
Dushenko had 33 saves Saturday to earn the victory.
The Lakers will take most of this week to heal from their various ailments, although the return of most of their injured players appears imminent.
Forward Dylan Kooner (fractured scapula) is expected to take contact for the first time in practice tomorrow after being out of action since Jan. 3.
He is a good bet to return this weekend for the Lakers’ three-game homestand to close out the regular season against the English River Miners.
Meanwhile, forwards A.J. Rupert (post-concussion syndrome) and Jaden Gustafson (back) both expect to be in the lineup, as should forward Nolan Ross and defenceman Roshen Jaswal, who missed the weekend action with illness.
The only player who faces an indefinite amount of time on the shelf is defenceman Robbie Bonthron (post-concussion syndrome).
