Staff
In terms of statement games, this said a ton about the Fort Frances Lakers.
Cody Wickstrom’s power-play goal with 2:19 to go lifted the Lakers to an eventual 6-4 victory over the host Thunder Bay North Stars on Saturday night.
The North Stars (27-7-1-4) entered the game having beaten the Lakers (33-6-0-2) in their last two meetings, and four out of seven overall, and had moved within seven points of first place.
But Fort Frances, coming off a two-game sweep at the SIJHL “Showcase” in Spooner, Wis. last week, posted their third-straight win with a balanced attack that saw five players record two points each.
The DLM Line of Lucas DeBenedet, Lyndon Lipinski, and Mason Meyer all had a goal and an assist in the triumph, as did Ryan McQueen, who is heating up with three points in his past two games.
Jesse Taylor netted a pair of goals for Thunder Bay while Zach Grzelewski and Alex Valliant added singles.
The Lakers carried the play on the shot clock with a 39-23 advantage, including 11-1 in the second period.
But the squad needed Wickstrom’s marker, and an empty-netter by Lipinski with four seconds left, to put away a gritty North Stars’ team that battled back from one-goal deficits three separate times.
Jordan Cartney made 19 saves to earn the win while Eric Mann turned aside 33 shots in a losing cause.
The Lakers are back in action again tomorrow night when they visit the Minnesota Iron Rangers (23-10-2-4) in Hoyt Lakes.
Their next home game is this Friday at 7:30 p.m. against the North Stars.
