After the first half of a home and home weekend series was postponed due to bad weather and road conditions Friday, the Fort Frances Lakers were rearing to go on Saturday, while it took a bit to get going, the Lakers kept the game close.
The Ice Dogs scored less than four minutes in when Evan Mayer put one past Lakers’ goaltender Gunner Paradis.
It was newcomer Tie Schumacher, recently acquired from Kam River, who got the Lakers on the board less than two minutes later on a feed from Jack Wood.
The Ice Dogs would score two more before the end of the frame heading into the first intermission up 3-1.
The Lakers defense was pressed but didn’t break in the second and Paradis made 18 saves in the period to keep the Ice Dogs at bay.
An unassisted goal from Carter Deschamps followed by a marker from Gunnar Simon assisted by Schumacher and Nolan Barker saw the Lakers tie the game 3-3 before the end of the second frame.
The Ice Dogs would outshoot the Lakers 11-10 in the third period but both teams went without a goal despite the Lakers’ two power play opportunities.
Moving into the extra frame the puck possession was split with the Lakers keeping it in the Ice Dogs’ end but doing more passing than shooting. The Lakers broke the tie and won the game when Ian Ness sent the puck towards the net and Gunnar Simon put it past Ice Dogs goalie Kellan Mooney.
Lakers Head Coach Tyler Miller was thankful to the staff at the Memorial Sports Centre for finding the team some ice time after the game in Dryden was cancelled.
“It was a last minute scramble,” Miller said. “I called the arena here, and the great staff found some icetime for us, so we got on and moved the puck a little bit, went through some things we’re looking at.You know it was good that the arena could support us here and find us quick dice like that so the guys really appreciate that.”
During the game, Miller says between periods coaches reminded the players they could play better than the first period and preceding games showed. The Lakers came in on a tough three-game losing streak where they dropped the last game before Christmas in Ironwood, Michigan to the Lumberjacks and the first two after the break to the Thunder Bay Northstars.
“We talked between periods with the guys,” Miller said. “We knew we were better than what we had last weekend and what we showed in the first period. We made a couple coaching adjustments and the guys did a great job with those adjustments.”
The team also saw contributions outside the top of the depth chart, with top scorer Brady Krentz held off the scoresheet.
“We’re looking for secondary scoring,” Miller said. “And we found some secondary scoring, I don’t think we had a powerplay goal tonight but we scored four goals that’s huge for us. It’s going to be a big moment to build off this year.”
Miller also credited Paradis with a good game, noting that the goals that did get by him were the result of poor team play.
“The ones he let in, it’s a team effort,” Miller said. “It’s a two on one goal, it’s a breakaway goal and another one on a lucky bounce. It was a great response from him after letting those three in that aren’t his fault. It’s a team effort, but we’re proud of the way he stood tall after that and proud of the guys to come back and battle for it.”
Tie Schumacher was named third star with a goal and an assist, Paradis was named second star with 46 saves on 49 shots, Gunnar Simon was the first star following a two-goal effort.
The Lakers continue the home schedule next with a weekend at home with games against the Ironwood Lumberjacks on Friday, and Thunder Bay Northstars on Saturday at Ice For Kids Arena.
