Staff
An old friend stymied the Fort Frances Lakers’ bid for a double-digit winning streak.
Former Laker John Cuni had the lone goal of the shootout to give the host Minnesota Iron Rangers a 4-3 victory Tuesday night in Hoyt Lakes to snap the Fort’s nine-game winning streak.
Cuni beat Pierce Dushenko on Minnesota’s first chance in the shootout.
Iron Rangers’ goalie Kyle Carignan, meanwhile, capped a solid outing between the pipes by stopping Dylan Robertson, Carter Chorney, and Andrew Willner to give last-place Minnesota (8-12-2) its first win in six tries against the Lakers (16-2-0-1).
It was the Lakers’ first game following a 10-day break from action.
After Alex Arnold and Jake Ellingson scored just over two minutes apart early in the second for Minnesota, Robertson put the Lakers on the board at 15:09.
Robbie Bonthron tied the game 1:05 later, but wasn’t around for the end of the night after getting a boarding major and game misconduct at 7:55 of the third.
On the ensuing power play, Cuni set up Ellingson for his second of the game to put Minnesota back up 3-2.
Robertson made sure the Lakers would get at least one point when he netted the equalizer with 1:29 left in regulation time.
Dushenko made 26 saves in suffering his first loss after winning nine-straight.
Forward Cole Tymkin rejoined the Lakers on Tuesday night after missing one game with a shoulder injury.
But defenceman Brandon Zajicek (post-concussion) remains sidelined.
The Lakers have an event-filled weekend ahead.
Friday’s 7:30 p.m. match-up against the second-place Dryden GM Ice Dogs (13-4-1-2) at the Ice For Kids Arena will see 2015 “Citizen of the Year” Larry Patrick perform the ceremonial face-off.
The team also will hold its annual bake sale in the Memorial Sports Centre lobby starting at 4 p.m.
Then on Saturday night against the fourth-place Thunder Bay North Stars (8-11-0-2), the team will hold its annual food and toy drive.
In related news, the SIJHL announced yesterday that Chorney is one of three players invited by Hockey Canada to the Team Canada West selection camp Dec. 5-8 in Leduc, Alta.
About 60 players will take part in the camp, with 22 eventually chosen to play for Team Canada West in the World Junior ‘A’ Challenge from Dec. 13-19 in Cobourg and Whitby, Ont.
This is the second-straight year Chorney has earned the opportunity to attend the camp, although he didn’t make the final roster last season.
The Ice Dogs’ tandem of goalie Taylor Unruh and defenceman Troy Williams also were invited to this year’s camp.
