Staff
It was a tough road swing for the Fort Frances Lakers last week.
The Lakers lost back-to-back games against the league-leading Thunder Bay North Stars to finish their three-game road trip with an 0-3 record.
Thunder Bay claimed Friday night’s game by a 4-2 count before following that up with a 5-2 victory the following night to see their record improve to 19-7-2.
A four-goal flurry four-and-a-half minutes apart in the third period broke open a tie game as the North Stars claimed the win on Saturday night at the Fort William Gardens.
After a scoreless first period, Thunder Bay broke the deadlock 4:21 into the second as Alex Erwin deflected a Logan Milhalcin point shot home during a man advantage.
The Lakers (11-14-1) evened it just over 10 minutes later as Nakoda Thunderchief fed Matthew Dyck in the high slot, as he then proceeded to rip home his third of the season.
Then in the third, the North Stars erupted for their offensive barrage beginning with Cody Bruchkowski connecting at 3:39.
A couple of shifts later, the hosts tacked on another moments into a power play as Jett Leishman was left with a tap-in.
Bruchkowski then came right back at 7:27 as he wired in his second of the evening, and SIJHL-leading 29th tally, to extend it to 4-1.
Thunder Bay then chased Lakers’ goalie Alex Bugeja 50 seconds after that in favour of backup Dean Buchholz when Enrico Bozac slid home a low attempt.
Fort Frances rounded out the scoring with seven-and-a-half minutes to go off a quality snap shot from the point from Ben Hoefler as he converted on a power play chance.
Jacob Brown and Evan Nicholas dished out two assists apiece to aid the North Stars’ offence.
Jordan Smith made 27 stops to earn the win.
Bugeja allowed five against on 35 chances in taking the loss while Buchholz handled all four attempts he faced in relief.
On Friday night, Bruchkowksi scored twice late in the third period to help the North Stars double the Lakers.
Thunder Bay opened the scoring near the nine-minute mark of the first period when Nikolas Campbell stuffed in a Joel Willan feed.
But Fort Frances countered with the equalizer at 15:50 when Matthieu Harrold’s attempt from the right side found its way through North Stars’ goalie Seth McKay.
The North Stars regained the lead early in the second frame as defenceman Kyler Belluz bagged his second of the season on a shot from the right point.
Answering back again, the Lakers drew level once more deep into the period thanks to Cooper Witherspoon, who powered his way past a Thunder Bay defender and slid a low shot under McMay for his third of the year.
The North Stars opted to replace McKay in favour of Smith to begin the third.
It stayed tied at 2-2 until late in regulation when Brown sent a crisp cross-ice pass over to a waiting Bruchkowksi, who promptly ripped the game-winner past Buchholz.
Bruchkowski then salted away the victory in the final minute as he was sent in on a breakaway during a man advantage and snapped a shot in at 19:04 to help round out the scoring.
Smith made three stops in relief to record the win and assisted on the evening’s final marker, while McKay handled 24-of-26 attempts he faced.
Buchholz was busy in defeat for the Lakers, making an impressive 51 saves on the night.
The fifth-place Lakers next are in action tomorrow night when they host the expansion Wisconsin Lumberjacks (5-17-2) at 7 p.m. at the Ice For Kids Arena.
The Lakers then will cap the week with a home-and-home series against the fourth-place Thief River Falls Norskies (13-8-2).
Thief River Falls will host the Lakers in the opener on Thursday night at the Ralph Engelstad Arena.
Fort Frances then will welcome the Norskies at 7:30 p.m. on Friday night at the Ice For Kids Arena to complete the set in their final game before the holiday break.
