Staff
The Dryden GM Ice Dogs’ first loss on home ice this post-season just got more painful.
The SIJHL announced yesterday that forward Zachary Kercz has been suspended for three games after receiving a major penalty and game misconduct for checking from behind at the final buzzer of the Ice Dogs’ 3-2 loss to the Fort Frances Lakers in Game 4 on Wednesday night.
That means Kercz is done for at least the rest of the series, which is tied 2-2 and resumes tonight at 7:30 p.m. at the Ice For Kids Arena.
“I’m not sure it makes our job any easier,” cautioned Lakers general manager and head coach Wayne Strachan.
“they are a solid team and will have players jumping at the bit to get into the line up to contribute.”
Kercz, a 19-year-old forward from Aurora who had a goal and four assists in nine playoff games, was given an automatic two-game suspension for the check from behind on Fort defenceman Cody Antonini.
An extra game was added for getting a game misconduct in the last 10 minutes of the third period.
Should the series end tomorrow night in Game 6 in Dryden, Kercz will be forced to miss the Ice Dogs’ first game at the Dudley Hewitt Cup here on April 28 against the NOJHL champion.
The Lakers are looking to hold on to home-ice advantage after losing it with a 5-4 defeat in Game 2 here.
Dryden then took the series lead with a 3-2 overtime win at home on Tuesday before the Lakers stormed back in Game 4.
The Lakers will be without forward Lucas DeBenedet for tonight’s game, who is out indefinitely with a leg injury.
The squad also is without forward Donovan Cousineau (knee) for the rest of the season.
