DRYDEN, Ont. – The Dryden GM Ice Dogs rode the 42-save performance by goaltender Tate Sproxton to help them defeat the first place Fort Frances Lakers 4-1 Saturday in a Superior International Junior Hockey League match-up held at Dryden’s Memorial Arena.
Fort Frances carried the play in the opening 20 minutes out-shooting Dryden 17-5 and picked up the game’s first goal 13 minutes into the contest as Wyatt Cota buried his 20th of the season past Sproxton.
The GM Ice Dogs battled back in the middle stanza to level the proceedings as Blake Peavey tied it at 15:25 of the second.
Nick Eytcheson notched the eventual game-winner 8:39 into the third as he finished off the feed of Eric Masters.
Masters added some insurance with four and half minutes to go as he chipped in a loose puck in front of a crowded Fort Frances crease to make it 3-1.
Matt Houston then iced it in the final minute with an empty netter.
Sproxton finished with the 42 saves to record his SIJHL-best 16th victory of the season helping his side improve to 23-18-0-2 overall.
Pierce Dushenko made 30 stops in defeat for the Lakers who fell to 32-9-0-1 on the campaign.
Action resumes Tuesday as the two teams complete a home-and-home set at Ice for Kids Arena in Fort Frances at 7:30 p.m.