Lucas Punkari
While the turnout was lower than what he had hoped, head coach and general manager Wayne Strachan was happy with the performances by those who took part in the Fort Frances Lakers’ annual prospect camp in International Falls over the weekend.
“My overall impression was a fairly good one as we got to see several players for the first time, and some of them opened our eyes in positive ways,” he noted.
“The goalies all preformed well when they started, the defensive players worked hard and showed solid play, while the forwards showed speed and skill, with a few that showed that they can maybe be role players and to help in specific ways.
“To only have 28 of the 35 players that committed to us show up hurt the camp’s intensity, and put a taxing load on the rest of the players that came and worked hard,” Strachan admitted.
“But all in all, we were happy with what took place.”
Local goalies Scott Parsons and Mark Loveday both showed promise, according to Strachan, as the team currently is looking for a back-up for returning netminder Tanner Hamilton.
“Mark will be returning to Shattuck-St. Mary’s next season, and we still need to touch base with Scott to see what he is looking at for next year,” Strachan noted.
On the blueline, a number of out-of-town players made their presence felt as the Lakers’ continue to search for players who will fit in the many holes that still need to be filled.
“Owen Stauber and Ethan Brekke both showed that they were capable of stepping in and playing at this level,” Strachan said.
“We like Mike Boyechko, as he is a solid hitter with a good hard shot, and Aaron Wesley-Chisel was a nice young surprise.
“Also, Hunter Bowlin fought through an injury all weekend, and he showed that he could moved the puck well from the back end,” he noted.
With the Lakers’ announcing Friday that SIJHL rookie-of-the-year Jordan Larson had been traded to the Pembroke Lumber Kings of the CCHL, many on hand at the prospect camp were interested to see how the forwards would do, with a number of players making an impact.
“With the local players, Mason Meyer from International Falls showed his speed and skill to make some nice offensive plays, and Hunter Leishman showed his power game and that he might be ready to make the next step to Junior ‘A,’” Strachan said.
“As for the guys that came from out-of-town, Kevin Kurm turned heads as he worked hard and put up good numbers throughout the camp, Brett Jeffries had a good showing, and Matt Lord was another player who caught our eye,” he added.
The Lakers also signed two returning players for the 2012/13 campaign, locking up the services of forwards Davis Smith and Alex Bruess over the weekend.
Smith, a 19-year-old from Atikokan, had 28 points in 48 games for the team last season while Bruess, a 19-year-old from International Falls, netted eight points in 38 games.
With those two locked up, along with fellow returnees in Hamilton and forward Jordan Christianson, in addition to newcomers Mathew Chasse and Brennan Nesrallah up front, the Lakers’ brass now will look to continue building the roster ahead of the team’s main training camp, which gets underway at the end of August.
“We made offers to five players out of the [prospect] camp this weekend, and we will give them a week or so to decide if we will be a good fit to come and play for,” Strachan noted.
“We have four other offers on the table to players that we have recruited, and we also still need to sign Brett McMahon, who is another returning player from here.
“We have our fingers crossed that veterans Merritt Rysavy, Colton Spicer, and Jon Carlson will return for another season for the Lakers,” added Strachan.
“And we also need to discuss a few things with a young local player and his family, along with targeting to solidify our defensive core.”
In related news, the Lakers will be looking to nail down their league schedule over the coming weekend.
Away from the ice, the squad will man a food booth at the Emo Fair next month as a fundraiser.
