Staff
The Fort Frances Lakers went up in the rankings, then went down in flames.
Jesse Talakoski had a hat trick, and Riley Corbin turned aside 47 shots, as the host Thunder Bay North Stars beat the Lakers 6-4 last night in the first of a two-game set.
It was the Lakers’ first loss in regulation time in 15 games.
The two teams will do battle again in the rematch tonight as the Lakers close out a four-game road swing.
Talakoski scored back-to-back goals late in the first and early in the second against Pierce Dushenko, then capped his hat trick with an empty-netter with eight seconds to go.
The SIJHL-leading Lakers outshot the North Stars 51-42 but Corbin was terrific in holding off Fort Frances, whose magic number to clinch first place remains at four points.
Brad Thrower, Bryce Martyn, and SIJHL goal-scoring leader Nicholas Nigro (30) also tallied for third-place Thunder Bay (24-22-0-3).
Roshen Jaswal, in his third game back after missing almost a month with a sprained wrist, had a goal and an assist for the Lakers, as did fellow blueliner Davis Ross.
Nick Minerva and Andrew Willner netted the Lakers’ other goals.
Dylan Robertson, the SIJHL’s top point producer with 70, extended his point streak to 15 games with a pair of assists.
That effort capped off a terrific month for Robertson, who was honoured today by being named the Gongshow Gear Inc. performer-of-the-month.
The 20-year-old from Atlanta had seven goals and 14 assists in 10 games during February.
In related news, the Lakers (38-7-0-2) moved up one spot to No. 5 in the CJHL’s latest top 20 weekly rankings announced earlier yesterday.
The defending RBC Cup champion Portage Terriers (MJHL) are the new top dogs while the Penticton Vees (BCHL) dropped down to No. 2.
The Lakers return to the Ice For Kids Arena this Friday at 7:30 p.m. against the last-place English River Miners.
