Staff
Some would consider the move from high school hockey to junior hockey a difficult transition.
Lucas DeBenedet isn’t sweating the switch so far.
The Fort Frances Lakers’ centre, who starred for his hometown International Falls Broncos last year, was named this season’s first Pizza Hut Player of the Week yesterday after a weekend performance that has him atop the SIJHL scoring race.
DeBenedet, 18, collected five points in two games as the Lakers opened the SIJHL regular season with a split on home ice.
In Friday night’s 4-3 loss to the Thunder Bay North Stars, DeBenedet had a goal and two assists as he and linemates Kevin Kurm and Mason Meyer combined for eight points in helping Fort Frances build a 3-0 first-period lead.
Then on Saturday against the expansion English River Miners, DeBenedet notched a pair of markers as the Lakers rolled to a 12-2 win.
Dryden forward Dane Feeney and Thunder Bay forward Cary Brown also received consideration for the award.
DeBenedet and Feeney will match skills tomorrow night as the Lakers (1-1) head to Dryden to take on the Ice Dogs (2-1).
The two teams then will meet again here this Saturday at 7:30 p.m.
