Staff
The Fort Frances Lakers split a series with the expansion K&A Wolverines on Friday and Saturday in Thunder Bay.
The Lakers took the opener 3-2 thanks to a third-period goal from Brendan Muise.
The line of Muise, Henry Gutierrez, and Tyler Stevensen accounted for all three Lakers’ goals, with the trio combining for seven points.
David Dawd and Drew Childs replied for the Wolverines.
Zak McMichael, making his first start in goal for the Lakers since being acquired from the Lindsay Muskies of the OJHL, stopped 28 shots for the victory.
Then on Saturday, the Lakers rallied from two goals down in the third period before losing 4-3.
The Wolverines jumped out to an early 2-0 lead on goals from Nathan Spina and Dawd, but Jake Ransom netted a power-play marker for the Lakers before the end of the first period to cut the deficit in half.
Kurtis Atkinson gave the Wolverines a two-goal cushion 8:12 into the final period, but the Lakers stormed back with goals from Stevenson and Byron Katapaytuk in a two-minute span to tie the game.
The comeback went for naught, however, as Childs iced the win to salvage the two-game split.
Lakers’ goalie Jameson Shortreed took the loss despite being named the game’s third star.
The team’s combined for more than 60 minutes of penalties in Saturday’s chippy affair.
The Lakers (1-2) don’t hit the ice again until this Friday (Sept. 25) when they host the Dryden Ice Dogs at the Ice For Kids Arena.
