Staff
Fort Frances Lakers’ forward A.J. Rupert is bound for the NCAA Division III after committing to the Aurora (Ill.) University Spartans of the NCHA.
“We are extremely pleased as this now makes [six] of our graduating 20-year-olds that are now committed to furthering their academic and hockey goals,” Lakers’ head coach and general manager Wayne Strachan said in an e-mail.
“Our program is very proud of this graduating class and all they have accomplished,” he added.
Strachan noted Rupert got off to a bit of a slow start after joining the Lakers partway through the season.
“However, when it mattered late in the season and into the playoffs, he was at the top of his game, especially in the final round,” he lauded.
Rupert, a 21-year-old native of North Oaks, Mn., was brought in last December from the Kirkland Lake Gold Miners (NOJHL) for a player development fee.
The former member of the SIJHL’s Minnesota Iron Rangers racked up 25 points in 29 regular-season games after joining the Lakers.
He then garnered 11 points in 10 playoff games to help the Lakers capture their third-straight league title.
Rupert was best in the final against the Dryden GM Ice Dogs—scoring the game-winning goal in the final three games of the series.
He then notched three points in three games at the Dudley Hewitt Cup in Kirkland Lake.
