FORT FRANCES, Ont. – An Ian Tookenay tally 81 seconds into overtime was the difference as the Fort Frances Lakers edged the English River Miners 2-1 Saturday night in Game 3 of their Superior International Junior Hockey League quarter-final at Ice for Kids Arena.
With the victory, the Lakers now lead this best-of-five series 2-1 heading into Game 4 Monday night back in Fort Frances.
After a scoreless first frame, the Miners opened the scoring 7:46 into the middle session on a Matt O’Neill marker.
That held up until early in the third when Jack Bernie tied it for the Lakers at 2:07.
It tightened up once again from there through the rest of regulation and into the extra frame when Tookenay won it for the home side to put them a win away from advancing to the semifinals against the top seeded Dryden GM Ice Dogs.
Ismael Ralsten made 24 saves to pick-up the triumph in net for the Lakers while Michael Lenko was solid, despite the setback for English River, making 43 stops of 45 attempts.
SIJHL Playoffs
Series B
Quarter-final series
No. 4 English River Miners vs. No. 5 Fort Frances Lakers
Fort Frances leads best-of-five series 2-1
Game 1: Fort Frances 4 English River 2
Game 2: English River 4 Fort Frances 1
Game 3: Fort Frances 2 English River 1 (OT)
Game 4: Monday, March 26 @ Fort Frances 7:30 p.m. (Ice for Kids Arena)
Game 5*: Wednesday, March 28 @ English River 7:30 p.m. (Cochenour Arena)
*- if necessary
Photo credit: Clint Bruyere