Staff
Dawson Waddell is a man on the move.
The 18-year-old from Brandon, Man. was acquired late last night by the Fort Frances Lakers from the Steinbach Pistons (MJHL) in exchange for a player development fee.
It was the Lakers’ first regular-season deal this season.
Lakers’ head coach and general manager Wayne Strachan hoped to have Waddell in the lineup tonight when Fort Frances travels to Red Lake to face the English River Miners.
“Dawson will bring more speed to our lineup, work ethic, and is a player that has a big upside if put in the right circumstances for his development,” Strachan noted.
“He makes us better up front.”
Waddell had two goals in seven games for the Pistons, along with 17 penalty minutes.
He played with the Southwest Cougars of the Manitoba Midget ‘AAA’ Hockey League last season, notching 24 points in 42 games along with 46 penalty minutes.
The Lakers also are counting on having captain Dylan Kooner and defenceman Mark Bruinsma back from injury for tonight’s game.
Fort Frances (3-8-1-2) will be looking to record its second-straight win for the first time this season as the squad tries to escape the SIJHL cellar.
The Minnesota Iron Rangers (4-9-1) also have nine points, but sit in fifth place due to having one more victory than the Lakers.
Second-place English River (11-5-1), meanwhile, has lost three-straight games but has beaten the Lakers all three times they’ve faced each other this season.
With 25 points, the Miners are just two behind the league-leading Thunder Bay North Stars (12-4-1).
The Lakers then will face the expansion Thief River Falls Norskies (5-7-0-2) this Saturday at 7:30 p.m. at the Ice For Kids Arena.
The Norskies currently in fourth place.
