The Fort Frances Lakers shook off the holiday rust to tackle a two-game sweep of the Thunder Bay North Stars last weekend.
On Friday night, January 9, 2026, the Lakers looked rusty out of the gate and both teams struggled until captain Pierce Gouin broke the stalemate late in the opening frame on a feed from Tie Schumacher and Gunnar Simon.
Nickolas Fagnilli scored his 11th of the season after hitting the post in the same shift just before the end of the period to send the Lakers into the intermission up 2-0.
The North Stars put up two goals on eight shots in the second period to take the game into the final period tied at two.
Nolan Barker would put the Lakers ahead for good just past the six minute mark of the third with assists from Fagnilli and Daniel Tokariwski, with Ronnie Bender adding a power play marker and Tie Schumacher scoring on an empty net to add insurance before the game ended 5-2 in the Lakers favour.
Nolan Koethler took the win in net stopping 23 of 25 North Stars shots.
A night later things went somewhat similarly in that the game was scoreless until late in the first period when Ronnie Bender poked a rebound past North Stars goalie Connor Dunham-Fox with just four seconds remaining in the period.
The North Stars would go on to get two past Lakers goalie Brady Cates in the middle frame but Gunnar Simon scored to tie it up once again sending the teams into the third period tied at two goals apiece.
Tie Schumacher put the Lakers up inside the first minute of the third period with a powerplay goal at the 19-second mark with an assist from Zak Green.
Not to be outdone, the North Stars gave the Lakers a challenge and tied the game up around the 13-minute mark.
However, late November addition Jace Van Eps, made a dazzling play when he caught a high pass at the blue line and brought it down to the ice in time to fire it past Dunham-Fox for the game winner.
Following the game, Head Coach and General Manager Luke Judson praised Van Eps for how he’s played since joining the team.
“He’s been dangerous since he got here,” Judson said.
“You can tell he’s got a nose for the net and great offensive instincts, and that’s a goal scorer’s goal, to beat a guy with speed and put that puck where he did. It was a late goal that we needed, and I’m glad we didn’t have to go to overtime.”
The Dryden Ice Dogs, who did not play over the weekend, fell to second place in the SIJHL standings with the Lakers taking a one point lead.
The team benefited from numerous blocked shots across the weekend, including several key ones from newcomer Bradyn Rowsell, who was named player of the game in his first match since joining the team from Red Lake in a trade after the holiday break, along with fellow defender Justin Gelderland. Both were acquired in exchange for Player Development Fees.
Judson says blocking shots is something they’re trying to get more of from the team.
“It’s something we’ve talked about all year, but they definitely took a big step this weekend with sacrificing themselves,” he said.
“I think our addition Rowsell set a great example of what that means and how to throw yourself out there. I think he might have had five or six on his own. But we’re really happy with that, that’s what it’s going to take at the end of the season to be successful.”
The SIJHL trade deadline passed over the weekend without any additional trades for the Lakers but Judson says he’s pleased with the group they have assembled to this point.
“We’ve said from the start of the year that these guys wouldn’t be here if the coaching staff didn’t like them and want them here,” Judson said.
“At times we went down to 12 forwards and six defenseman because we wanted to make sure that the guys who were here deserved to be here. There’s a high bar to be a Laker now and I’m happy with the additions we’ve had, not just this past couple of weeks but all the way through the season. They fit in really well and the group is gelling at the right time.”
On the weekend’s results, Judson said the games showed the Lakers can compete with the other good teams in the league.
“That’s a good hockey team and a team we’re going to compete tight with all year,” Judson said.
“These are games we want to play right now that are close playoff (style) hockey. High intensity. I’m happy to get both wins. It’s a good character builder for us and I’m glad we came out on the right end.”
The Lakers are on the road for a game against Kam River Walleye tonight and return home Thursday face Dryden at Ice For Kids Arena when they’ll be hosting a “Fill the Bowls” fundraiser for Best for Kitty and Ruffcue organizations, which help animals in the Fort Frances area.
