Staff
If the Fort Frances Lakers end up being a strong home team this season, they’ll have a great chance to establish that reputation early on.
The SIJHL released its regular-season schedule yesterday, revealing that the local Junior ‘A’ squad will play seven of its first nine games in the friendly confines of the Ice For Kids Arena.
The Lakers will kick off their 56-game schedule on Friday, Sept. 17 against the defending champion Fort William North Stars, followed up by a visit from the Dryden Ice Dogs, the league runners-up, on Tuesday, Sept. 21.
Fort Frances will play its first road game on Sept. 24 in Spooner, Wis. against the Wilderness as part of a home-and-home series.
The Wilderness will visit the Ice For Kids Arena the following night (Sept. 25).
The Duluth Clydesdales, the other new team in the SIJHL this season, will make their first visit to Fort Frances on Tuesday, Oct. 5.
In total, the Lakers will play 27 games at the Ice For Kids Arena, concluding their home schedule Feb. 17 against the North Stars.
They will wrap up regular-season play a week later in Sioux Lookout.
In addition to the regular home-and-away slate, each SIJHL squad also will play a home game and an away game during the SIJHL’s Showcase Weekend at Wisconsin’s Northwest Sports Complex from Oct. 21-23.
The weekend’s schedule has not been set yet.
