Lakers drop pair to ’Dogs

Monday, 10 September 2012 - 1:39pm

The Fort Frances Lakers still are looking for their first win of the SIJHL exhibition season after losing twice to the Dryden Ice Dogs over the weekend.
In their first game of the pre-season here Friday night, the Lakers fell 4-1 as the Ice Dogs capitalized on a number of defensive breakdowns to create numerous odd-man rushes and breakaways.

Merritt Rysavy netted the Lakers’ lone goal near the midway point of the game.
Then Saturday night’s game in Dryden ended up going to a six-round shootout, where Derek McPhail of the Ice Dogs beat Dustin Stevens to give the home side a 3-2 win.
Austin Lewis and Rory Court scored for Dryden in regulation time while Cole Sonstebo hit the twine in the shootout prior to McPhail’s game-winner.

The Lakers got goals from Alex Bruess and Joel Bogacki in regulation, with Alex Mason notching their only marker in the shootout.
Next up for the Lakers is a pair of exhibition contests this weekend against the Minnesota Wilderness, with the first slated here Saturday at 7:30 p.m. at the ’52 Canadians Arena.
Both teams will be back in action Sunday at 3 p.m. in Cloquet.

In other news, three members from last year’s Lakers’ squad have decided on the next step in their hockey careers.
Forward Henry Gutierrez and goalie Tyler Ampe both will be suiting up for the Williston State Tetons in Williston, N.D., where they’ll be joined by fellow teammate Steve Terry.
Meanwhile, defenceman Brandon Fehd has committed to play for the Northland College Lumberjacks in Ashland, Wis. starting next season.
Former Lakers’ forwards Blake Boaz (Concordia College) and Byron Katapaytuk (Nipissing University) had committed to post-secondary programs earlier in the off-season.