HOYT LAKES, Minn. – With both teams riding winning streaks, it was the Minnesota Iron Rangers who extended theirs to five as they blasted the Fort Frances Lakers 9-2 Friday in Superior International Junior Hockey League action at Hoyt Lakes Arena.
Jason Reynolds had a monster night for Minnesota scoring once while doling out five assists for a six-point night.
The Iron Rangers jumped out to a 3-0 lead after one period on markers by Matt O’Dea, Evan Bennett and Evan Erickson.
Minnesota continued to roll from there tacking on five more tallies in the middle session to go up by eight, courtesy of efforts supplied by O’Dea, former Laker Alex Rezansoff, Reynolds, Erickson and Noah Anderson.
Gordon Campbell got one back for Fort Frances in the third before Rezansoff and Dylan Robertson traded markers to round out the scoring.
Erickson finished with three helpers as well for a five-point evening while O’Dea had four points. Tom Fazio set-up three as well for the Iron Rangers.
Adam Ranck made 25 saves to record the win for Minnesota.
Ryan Ferguson started for Fort Frances and suffered the loss allowing four against while Devin Tappenden gave up five in relief on a combined 28 shots against.
The loss put an abrupt end to the Lakers’ six-game winning streak as they lost for the first time in nearly a month.
Game Stats: Gordon Campbell 1G, Dylan Robertson 1G, A.J. Kapcheck 1A, Mason Meyer 1A, Wyatt Cota 1A, Ryan Ferguson MIN 46:01 SOG20 SV14 GA6 SV%.700 Devin Tappenden MIN 13:59 SOG13 SV10 GA3 SV%.769