Lucas Punkari
Calling it his best effort of the season so far, Fort Frances Lakers’ goalie Tanner Hamilton was near perfect between the pipes Friday night at the Ice For Kids Arena.
The 20-year-old Saskatoon native made 40 saves to help the red-and-white beat the Duluth Clydesdales 4-2.
Hamilton, who has been the back-up to Tyler Ampe this season, made the most of his opportunity Friday night, turning in numerous clutch saves to pick up his fourth-straight in goal and the team’s fifth-straight triumph on home ice.
“This was definitely my best game of the year,” enthused Hamilton, who last started on Jan. 15 in a 5-4 win over the Clydesdales in Duluth.
“I have been working hard in practice lately to try and get ready for games, and I think that really helped out a lot with my game tonight [Friday],” he noted.
“It’s also good for us, as a team, to get a good win here and to help us get prepared for the next couple of games,” Hamilton added.
Henry Gutierrez led the Lakers offensively, netting a pair of goals with linemate Jaret Leclair helping to set up both markers.
Jordan Christianson and Blake Boaz also scored for the Lakers, who snapped a two-game losing skid.
The Lakers continue their four-game homestand tonight when they welcome the Dryden Ice Dogs to the Ice For Kids Arena at 7:30 p.m. for the first of two times this week.
“We’ve been playing pretty iffy against Dryden as of late,” Hamilton admitted.
“To be able to get a win here against Duluth, though, after losing to Wisconsin [on Thursday night], and to get momentum on our side for the next couple of games with the Ice Dogs is huge,” he stressed.
Dryden will be back in town again Friday night, with the Lakers wrapping up their homestand the following evening against the Sioux Lookout Flyers.
