Staff
Malcolm Huemmert scored twice and helped set-up the game-winner as the Dryden GM Ice Dogs dumped the Fort Frances Lakers 5-2 in SIJHL action last night at the Memorial Arena in Dryden.
The Lakers saw their three-game win streak come to an end with the loss, dropping them to 10-11-1 overall.
Huemmert opened the scoring for the Ice Dogs (13-10-1) nine minutes into the first period as he sped in alone down the right side before cutting in front of Fort Frances goalie Alex Bugeja and lifting in a backhander.
The Lakers evened the score at 14:55 as Tyler Malpass wheeled out of the corner and buried a shot from slot during a two-man advantage.
But Huemmert connected once more before the frame was complete as some crafty stick work and a spin move allowed him time to stuff in his ninth of the season from close range to make it 2-1 Dryden after 20 minutes.
The Ice Dogs then went up by a pair 13:30 into the second. After forcing a turnover, a slick passing play from Huemmert and Josh Weber finished up with Cortez Favot taking a cross-crease feed and potting in his third of the season.
In the third, Fort Frances crawled back to within a goal while shorthanded as Cooper Witherspoon had a clear-cut breakaway and knocked in a second attempt with 9:02 to go.
But still on that same power play, the hosts answered right back just a half-minute later when Weber collected his ninth tally of the season to push it to 4-2.
The Ice Dogs then secured the decision in the final moments when Evan Pakkala, who chipped in with three points on the night, put one into an empty net with eight seconds to go to round out the scoring.
Jacob Anthony earned the win for Dryden in finishing with 35 saves while Bugeja turned aside 30 attempts in taking the loss.
The fifth-place Lakers will resume action tomorrow night when they host those same second-place Ice Dogs at 7:30 p.m. at the Ice For Kids Arena to complete the home-and-home set.
