Staff
With half the season to go, Wayne Strachan still thinks the Fort Frances Lakers can turn their fortunes around.
“We are going to have 28 games left to play [after the Christmas break],” the head coach and general manager noted yesterday in an e-mailed response to the Times.
“I believe we can salvage the year,” he remarked. “[But] we need to start playing the right way every game.”
The Lakers were beaten 5-2 by the host English River Miners on Monday night to extend their losing streak to 10 games.
“That we are losing hockey games that we should win,” Strachan replied when asked about the most frustrating part of the team’s skid.
“We are our own worst enemy in those losses.”
Special teams was one factor Strachan cited in Monday night’s loss.
“And we didn’t have an honest effort from each player dressed,” he admitted.
Jack Bernie and Jaedin Ness scored for the Lakers, who gave up the opening goal just 48 seconds into the game but only trailed 3-2 after two periods.
But Spencer Milne netted the Miners’ second power-play goal of the game in the third before Nic Herringer added an empty-netter to seal the win.
Ismael Ralsten had 22 stops in taking the loss.
The two teams clashed again last night at the Ice For Kids Arena to close out the home-and-home series (the outcome wasn’t known as of press time).
What will the Lakers need to do to pull out a win?
“Take advantage of our opportunities, make every offensive chance count, and be disciplined,” Strachan stressed.
Meanwhile, with the trade deadline being Jan. 10, Strachan said the Lakers’ brass will be looking to strengthen the team.
On the injury front, Mark Richter (upper body) and Jack Dunnell (leg) both are out until the new year.
Following last night’s game, the Lakers don’t play again until Wednesday, Jan. 3 when they host the last-place Minnesota Iron Rangers at 7:30 p.m. at the Ice For Kids Arena.
Then they visit the second-place Dryden GM Ice Dogs on Jan. 6.
