Staff
When building a foundation, any good architect knows to put the biggest, strongest blocks down first.
Fort Frances Lakers’ head coach and general manager Wayne Strachan is following that philosophy with one of his first two recruits for the upcoming 2017-18 SIJHL season.
Defenceman Cohen MacPherson is a safe bet to make a physical impact at training camp as the 19-year-old from Thorold was listed as 6’5″ and 220 pounds by Strachan.
The Elite Hockey Prospects website, meanwhile, has MacPherson tabbed at 6’3″ but an even sturdier 254 pounds.
“Cohen will bring size to our defence corps,” said Strachan.
“He is physical and has a good hard shot from the back end.
“He is a player we targeted last year to come to the team and we are pleased that he has now chosen to join our hockey team,” Strachan added.
MacPherson spent the past two seasons with the Richmond Generals of the United States Professional Hockey League Elite division and the USP3HL, collecting 22 points in 41 regular-season games and another four points in three post-season ones.
Also joining the Lakers’ fold is forward Jeff Venzon, a 20-year-old from Niagara Falls.
Venzon hasn’t laced up the skates competitively since two seasons ago, when he registered 25 points in 37 regular-season games with the Niagara Falls Canucks and Pelham Panthers of the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League (GOJHL).
“Jeff had a tough season last year being injured in a USHL camp and then choosing to take the full year to rehab to get back to 100 percent,” Strachan said about the 6’2″, 175-pounder.
“Jeff has good size, skates well, and will bring skill to our lineup,” added Strachan.
“He is working hard to get back to playing next year, and we are excited to see him in main camp and this season.”
Meanwhile, blueliner Ryan Gazich, whose junior eligibility expired at the end of this past season, signed a letter of intent last week to join the Gustavus Adolphus College Gusties (St. Peter, Mn.)
The 21-year-old from Eagan, Mn. had two solid years with the Lakers, being named the team’s top defenceman last season after bolstering a blueline that had a big hand in the squad’s third-straight SIJHL crown in 2015-16.
Gazich later was selected in the seventh round of the NAHL draft by the Kenai River Brown Bears.
But his time in Kenai River lasted all four games, with Gazich returning to the Lakers part-way through last season.
“Ryan is very deserving of this commitment,” said Strachan.
“He is a class act off the ice and a leader on the ice,” he added.
“If he commits his time, he will have a good college career.”
The Lakers will hold a tryout camp July 14-16 at Bronco Arena in International Falls.
