Joey Payeur
The Fort Frances Lakers’ semi-final ouster to the Toronto Lakeshore Patriots at the Dudley Hewitt Cup was so last year—literally.
Now, 361 days later, the Lakers and the renamed Toronto Patriots will renew hostilities in their opening game of the 2015 tournament tonight at 7:30 p.m. at the Ice For Kids Arena.
Toronto enters the tourney not only as the OJHL champ but also the defending Dudley Hewitt kingpin—a title the team garnered in part to its 6-0 ouster of the Lakers last year in Wellington.
“We don’t have a lot of returning players,” noted Lakers’ head coach and general manager Wayne Strachan, referring to his six holdovers from last season.
“However, we hope that as a family, we realize we should have had a better showing last year against them and this season, the vets we do have lead the way and we understand we have to play at the top of our game,” he said.
“Toronto is a fast, skilled team with a ton of depth and they pressure pucks well,” Strachan added.
“We will have to be strong defensively and be aware of their speed,” he warned.
“We need to compete at a high level and stay out of the penalty box to have success.”
The Lakers will face the challenge with their ranks somewhat replenished by the return of forward Lucas DeBenedet.
The International Falls product missed eight of the Lakers’ 11 playoff games en route to their second-straight SIJHL crown with a leg injury suffered in the first game of the semi-final against the Thunder Bay North Stars.
DeBenedet was second on the team in scoring during the regular season with 58 points, and was a league MVP finalist for the second year in a row.
Forward Dylan Kooner, who suffered a lower-body injury after being rammed into the boards by Ryan Scott of the Dryden GM Ice Dogs in the Game 6 clincher in the SIJHL final, remains out day-to-day.
“Hopefully, we will see Kooner back at some point throughout the Dudley Hewitt,” said Strachan.
Also still on the shelf is forward Carter Chorney, who is awaiting test results on his unknown ailment.
He also is listed as day-to-day.
Forward Donovan Cousineau, who was sidelined Feb. 7 against Dryden when he re-aggravation a knee injury suffered last season, has left the team.
He is out for the rest of what is his final season of junior eligibility.
The tournament began today at 2 p.m. with Dryden facing the NOJHL champion Soo Thunderbirds.
Opening ceremonies for the tournament go at 7 p.m.
