Staff
After a number of close losses over the last few months, the Fort Frances Lakers finally beat the league-leading Wisconsin Wilderness for the second time this season.
The red-and-white outplayed the defending SIJHL champs en route to a 5-0 victory here Saturday night, handing Wisconsin only their seventh loss of the season.
The Lakers last defeated the Wilderness here back on Sept. 23 by a score of 6-3.
Starting goalie Tyler Ampe stood tall between the pipes for Lakers, making 23 saves to earn his second shutout of the season.
Offensively, SIJHL scoring leader Byron Katapaytuk led the way with a three-assist performance for 76 points on the season—four ahead of Sioux Lookout Flyers’ teammates Chris Hoffman and Anthony Wolfe.
Jordan Christianson scored twice for the Lakers, with Adam Wensley, Henry Gutierrez, and Jon Carlson adding singles.
Saturday’s win came on the heels of a 13-4 thrashing of the visiting expansion Iron Range Ironheads one night earlier, which ended the Lakers’ two-game losing skid.
Two key cogs in that offensive outburst—the highest by the Lakers this season—were Colton Spicer and Jordan Larson as the rookie forwards both netted hat tricks.
Spicer, who scored all three of his goals in the first period, also assisted on a Brett McMahon goal in the second period to finish with four points.
Merritt Rysavy was the top point producer for the Lakers against the Ironheads, scoring two goals and assisting on three others.
Blueliner Dalen Porter, meanwhile, had his best performance since joining the Lakers last month with four assists.
Christianson, Blake Boaz, Bryan Broders, and Davis Smith also scored.
The Lakers now will prepare for their final road trip of the regular season, which will begin Thursday night in Chisholm, Mn. versus the Ironheads.
The squad then will travel to Spooner, Wis. on Friday for a rematch with the Wilderness.
Their final road game of the regular season is set for next Monday (Feb. 20) against the Dryden Ice Dogs.
In other news, six Lakers are finalists for the SIJHL’s year-end awards, which will be handed out over the coming weeks.
Earning nods were Katapaytuk (MVP), Jordan Larson (rookie of the year), Ampe (top goalie), Gutierrez (best defensive forward), Ryan Wildman (most improved player), and Boaz (most sportsmanlike player).
As well, Lakers’ head coach and general manager Wayne Strachan was nominated for the SIJHL’s coach-of-the-year award, which he’s won three times previously, including last season.
