Staff
The last time the Toronto Patriots met the Fort Frances Lakers, it was like the schoolyard bully taking his classmate’s lunch money, giving him a wedgie, and then walking away asking what they’re going to do about it.
Five days from now, the Lakers will get to stare the bully in the eye once again while standing on their own playground—and give them an answer that’s been a year in the making.
The Patriots will be on hand to defend their Dudley Hewitt Cup crown after dumping the Kingston Voyageurs 6-1 in Game 7 of the OJHL final last night in Etobicoke.
The victory filled out the final berth in this year’s Dudley Hewitt tournament, which begins Tuesday at the Ice For Kids Arena here.
It also means the two-time defending SIJHL champion Lakers’ first game of the tourney—set for 7:30 p.m.—will be a rematch of last year’s semi-final in Wellington.
Toronto won that game 6-0, then went on to defeat the host Wellington Dukes to capture the title.
The Dryden GM Ice Dogs, representing the SIJHL, and the NOJHL champion Soo Thunderbirds make up the rest of this year’s field.
They will square off in the tournament opener at 2 p.m. on Tuesday.
The Dudley Hewitt winner will advance to the 2015 RBC Cup from May 9-17 in Portage la Prairie, Man.
