Two teams apply to join SIJHL

The Fort Frances Lakers’ board of directors is in place for the 2010-11 season and on behalf of the team, we would like to welcome the new members.
It will be good to see their new ideas to help the team further grow.
The board members who left will be greatly missed as they all brought their own aspects and ideas to helping the team through its inaugural season.
Is expansion in the air? I know it sounds like another summer in the SIJHL, but two new teams have applied to join the league next season full-time and there could be another playing a partial schedule as the Wisconsin Mustangs did last year.
This is all the information I have at this time, but stay tuned as this possibly will be released sometime after the SIJHL annual general meeting in early June.
However, it’s exciting news for the league, its teams, and the fans.
As for the Lakers, we are busy recruiting, looking to add a goalie to complement the services of Jameson Shortreed.
On our back end, we will look to add two-three newcomers as we will lose Mario Boivin to age, Morgan McNeill would like to go closer to his home in P.E.I., and Brett Williams has decided to go to school in Regina next season.
Some local players who could rise to the Lakers’ ranks on defence include Jamie Kaun, Matt Yueso, Jon Carlson, and Robbie Rea.
We are hoping to see all four of these players in training camp later this summer, as well as others.
A few other players we are looking at are Chad Bonner and Conner Hady from Hermantown, Mn., who both would bring all-round games to the team, as well as Alex Prudhomme from Crookston, Mn., who would bring a solid defensive presence with some offensive upside.
We also are speaking with a few Northwestern Ontario and Manitoba players at this time.
At forward, we will look to add some skill, size, and grit to complement the 12 forwards who can return to the team. We only lose Tim Hennessey up front because of age, and we are hoping our young players from last season work hard over the off-season to stay in shape and improve themselves for next season.
A few local players who can rise up to help our cause next season may be Donovan Cousineau, Brendan Cawston, Jordan Christianson, Blake Wepruk, and Zach McCool.
Again, we are looking forward to seeing these players in our camp, as well as others later in the summer.
Some out-of-town players who would be nice to land are Jordan Barnes from Brandon, Man., who will bring some touch around the net, and Brett Wur, also from Manitoba, who would add scoring, size, and grit to the roster.
A couple of veterans who have skated in the past for the old Jr. Sabres also would be nice to see return for the next season.
Kyle Turgeon, who skated for the Portage Terriers last season, would be an added addition by bringing experience, energy, and solid two-way play to our lineup for his last year of junior hockey eligibility.
Jon Sinclair, who played for the Dubuque T-Birds this past year, would be another veteran player and local prospect that would add some skill to our lineup.
The Lakers surely will look into adding these two players for the 2010-11 season if they are willing to return.
With regards to our first Lakers’ golf tournament of the summer, it was held at Heron Landing Golf Course on Saturday and deemed a success.
The Lakers’ organization would like to thank all who participated in this fundraiser, and hope we can attract you all—and more—out to our golf tournament planned for Saturday, July 10th, which will be bigger and better at Heron Landing!