Staff
A familiar face is back in the fold for the Fort Frances Lakers.
The team announced yesterday it had traded forward Mark Spong to the Mattawa Blackhawks (NOJHL) in exchange for the playing rights of forward Brent Aiken.
It’s been quite the off-season journey for Aiken, who initially was sent to the English River Miners on June 9 to complete the dual trades that saw forwards Colton Spicer and Bryson Jasper come here last October and January, respectively.
Aiken then was dealt to the Blackhawks on June 24 for Eric Champagne before finally coming back to the team which he helped win the SIJHL crown last season.
The 19-year-old Kenora native had 12 goals and 21 points in 47 regular-season games with the Lakers before ramping up his game during in the post-season.
Teamed with Kevin Kurm and Miles Nolan on the “KAN Line,” Aiken finished second in the league playoff scoring with 14 points in 13 games.
He then tacked on two more goals during the Lakers’ third-place finish at the Dudley Hewitt Cup in Wellington.
Spong, a 19-year-old from North Vancouver, played in the Lakers’ pre-season opener Friday night against the Minnesota Iron Rangers and went pointless.
The Lakers also announced the release of goalie Devin Day.
The 19-year-old from Fontana, Calif. played the second half of the Lakers’ 3-2 shootout win over the English River Miners here Saturday night.
The netminder had a tough night, allowing a long shot to beat him on the Miners’ first goal.
He then was unable to corral a loose puck in the crease that led to English River’s second tally.
In the shootout, Day was beaten on the first two shots he faced, then got some help from the next two Miners’ shooters.
The first shot high and wide while the other who had the puck slide off his stick.
Day’s departure leaves veterans Devin Tappenden and Ryan Ferguson, along with newcomer Stirling Wright, as the only goalies left on the roster.
The Lakers are in Hoyt Lakes tonight for a pre-season rematch with the Iron Rangers.
They’ll play two more exhibition road games before opening the regular season here Sept. 19 against the Thunder Bay North Stars.
