Staff
One team on a six-game winning streak; the other having won four in a row.
Something had to give—and it turned out the road team was the most movable object.
Jason Reynolds, Evan Erickson, and Matt O’Dea combined for 15 points to power the Minnesota Iron Rangers to a 9-2 rout of the Fort Frances Lakers in Hoyt Lakes on Friday night.
The Lakers (16-6-1) had been perfect over their past half-dozen outings but where shocked by the Iron Rangers (12-7-3), who won their fifth-straight game.
It was all Minnesota from the get-go—scoring three goals in the first period before racking up five more in the second to lead 8-0.
Reynolds tallied once and had five assists while Erickson and O’Dea each scored twice.
Former Laker Alex Rezansoff, in his first game against his old team, also proved a handful with two goals of his own.
That was double what he scored in 20 games with Fort Frances before being traded, along with Max Kaercher, on Nov. 21 for a pair of player development fees.
Evan Bennett and Noah Anderson added singles for Minnesota, who cut their gap in the season series to 4-3.
Adam Ranck made 29 saves for the win.
Gordon Campbell and Dylan Robertson replied for the Lakers.
Ryan Ferguson took the loss, credited with 14 saves on 20 shots before being replaced by Devin Tappenden, who turned aside 10 of the 13 shots he faced.
In related news, Lakers’ forward Carter Chorney was one of three SIJHL players out of the 60 chosen to attend the three-day Canada West selection camp beginning Dec. 7.
The 17-year-old from Rainy River has three goals and 10 assists in 21 games in his rookie season with the Lakers.
Thunder Bay North Stars’ forwards Nicholas Nigro and Brett Wolframe were the other SIJHL players to receive invites.
Those who make the cut will take part in the World Junior ‘A’ Challenge from Dec. 14-20 in Kindersley, Sask.
