Jamie Mountain
After narrowly falling 4-3 in a shootout to the host Dryden GM Ice Dogs on Saturday night, it was a much different story when the Fort Frances Lakers headed back up there last night.
The outcome was never in doubt this time around as Lakers were dumped 8-0 for their 13th-straight loss.
Eric Stout had a hat trick, while Jacen Bracko and Evan Walls each netted a pair of goals, to pace the Ice Dogs’ onslaught.
Bracko opened the scoring at 5:44 of the first period before Walls made it 2-0 just under two minutes later.
Stout then notched his first of the night at 12:58 to give the home side a 3-0 lead and chase Lakers’ starter Brett Akins from the net.
Ismael Ralsten took over in goal for the Lakers.
Dryden outshot Fort Frances 23-11 in the opening period.
The second period followed a similar script, with Bracko (6:54), Walls (10:25), and Stout (19:59) all bulging the twine to extend the lead to 6-0.
Trevor Kavanaugh made it 7-0 just 2:04 into the final frame, assisted by Cory Dennis and Conner Mowatt.
Stout then capped the scoring at 6:54–completing the hat trick with his 20th marker of the season.
Landon Pavlisin stopped all 34 shots he faced to earn the shutout.
Akins stopped only 12-of-15 shots to take the loss while Ralsten made 31 saves in relief.
Shots on goal overall favoured Dryden by a 51-34 margin.
Fort Frances went 0-for-4 on the man-advantage while Dryden was 0-for-3.
The Lakers are back in action tomorrow night in Thunder Bay when they take on the North Stars.
They they’ll return home Friday to host the Minnesota Iron Rangers at 7:30 p.m. at the Ice For Kids Arena.
The Thief River Falls Norskies continue to lead the SIJHL with a 28-1-0-0 record.
Dryden (23-3-5-1) occupies second place, with the North Stars (17-10-3-0) in third and the English River Miners (13-13-0-3) in fourth.
Fort Frances (6-20-1-3) sits in fifth place while the Iron Rangers (3-24-1-2) remain in the league basement.
