FORT FRANCES, Ont. – Nick Hahkala scored three times for his first Superior International Junior Hockey League hat trick Friday to help lead the Fort Frances Lakers to an 8-1 triumph vs. the Minnesota Iron Rangers at Ice for Kids Arena.
Fort Frances picked up the early edge in the contest at Kaleb Bruyere collected his first SIJHL goal 12:47 into the contest.
The Lakers then broke it open in the middle stanza as they scored three times to extend their lead thanks to one from Isaac Baron and two by Hahkala.
Heading to the third, Brett Hahkala made it 5-0 at 3:28 before Nick Hahkala finished off his hat trick at 6:49.
Minnesota got on the board a couple shifts later as Joshua Baker set-up Garrett Wojcicki for his sixth of the campaign.
However, Fort Frances put the game away with goals 35 seconds apart from Kirk Coppock and Jaedin Ness to round out the night’s scoring.
Chase Robideau chipped in with three assists to aide the Lakers offensive cause while Jacob Ruck and Anthony Antonelli provided two helpers apiece.
Fort Frances starter Jacob Gnidziejko stopped 13 of the 14 shots he faced to record the win while affiliate netminder Jag Arena handled all six attempts he saw in 10 minutes of relief in his SIJHL debut.
Iron Rangers netminder Nick Corneliusen made 43 saves in defeat.
Photo credit: Clint Bruyere