Staff
One step forward, two steps back.
It’s been that kind of season for the three-time defending SIJHL champion Fort Frances Lakers, who hit another bump by falling 3-1 to the host Dryden GM Ice Dogs last night.
After winning four-straight games and seven-of-eight, Fort Frances (18-16-2-3) now has lost back-to-back games to slip back to fifth place in the standings–one point behind the English River Miners (19-17-1-3).
All the scoring last night came in the first period, during which the first-place Ice Dogs (32-4-4) held a decisive 16-6 advantage in shots.
SIJHL scoring leader Braeden Allkins opened the scoring at 3:39 but Jack Bernie tied it up at 6:41 on the power play, with Jared Virtanen notching his league-high 41st assist of the season.
But Allkins added a power-play goal at 13:52 before helping to set up Kristopher Hamlin just 13 seconds to round out the scoring.
Patrick Zubick made 29 stops to ensure a seventh-straight win for the Ice Dogs, who haven’t lost in regulation time in their last 14 games (13-0-1).
Up next, the Lakers travel to Thunder Bay tomorrow night to face the second-place North Stars (24-13-3), who are in a tailspin having lost four-straight games and eight of their last 10.
The Lakers then return home Friday to play English River at 7:30 p.m. at the Ice For Kids Arena.
