Staff
The first three members of the Fort Frances Lakers’ graduating class have mapped out their educational–and hockey–futures.
The team revealed Saturday that Jared Virtanen, last season’s leading scorer, has signed to play for the ACHA Division I Calvin College Knights based out of Grand Rapids, Mich.
The 20-year-old forward from Abbotsford, B.C. notched 74 points, including an SIJHL-best 52 helpers, in 44 games in what was his only season here.
He tacked on five points in eight playoff games.
“Jared had a strong year for us this past season,” Lakers’ head coach and general manager Wayne Strachan said about the team’s choice for MVP this past season.
“He defined himself as one of the top players in the SIJHL, and that has helped him reach this point of committing to continue his school and hockey career,” he noted.
“Jared is a good student and we, as a Laker family, know his ability on the ice,” added Strachan.
“Calvin is getting a solid hockey player. Lakers’ hockey wishes him good luck.”
Making his own trek south of the border for school is fellow 20-year-old Abbotsford resident Dylan Kooner, who is heading for Northfield, Mn. to play for the St. Olaf College Oles in Division III of the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.
“Dylan is the true meaning of Lakers’ hockey,” lauded Strachan.
“He has strong character, a good work ethic, and was a good leader for us.
“He is a player that overcame a lot of adversity through injuries, and continued to work hard to reach his goal of moving to a higher level of hockey and finishing his education.
“We wish Dylan the best of luck in his school career and thank him for three great years in our program,” Strachan added.
Kooner was second on the Lakers with 68 points in 55 games this past season while leading the squad with seven points in eight playoff games.
Finally, defenceman Maverick Lynes is slated to head for Portland, Maine to suit up for the NCAA Division III University of Southern Maine Huskies in the New England Hockey Conference.
Lynes, a 20-year-old native of Sherwood Park, Alta., topped all Lakers’ defencemen in scoring last season with 34 points in 56 games.
He then added another five points in eight post-season outings.
“We are very happy for Maverick,” said Strachan.
“He worked hard to improve his game throughout the course of the season and earn this opportunity to reach his goal of becoming a student-athlete.
“He brings a solid offensive game from the back end and, with further development, should have a strong college career,” lauded Strachan.
“We wish him the best of luck.”
Lynes will join former Lakers’ forward Blue Hayler on the Huskies.
Hayler, who just finished his sophomore season with Southern Maine, played two games here in the 2014-15 season.
