By Tanner Schafer
Spooner, WI – The Fort Frances Lakers battled back from a 3rd period deficit and scored with just 2.4 seconds left to defeat the Wisconsin Lumberjacks in Rice Lake.
Fort Frances opened the scoring halfway through the 1st period thanks to a power play marker scored by Clark Scaddan. Assists on the goal went to Brody Lindal and Brady Krentz. The Lumberjacks evened the game up 3 minutes later thanks to a heavy slap shot from Will McDonnel. He was assisted by Koen Burkholder, and the game would go to the 1st intermission tied at 1.
Wisconsin would jump out to a 3-1 lead early in the 2nd thanks to back to back goals scored by Nolan Fowler. It wouldn’t be the last time the 2 teams would trade the lead as the Lakers came roaring back to take a 4-3 lead. The rally was started on a goal from Brody Lindal and the following goals came from Remington Richardson and Emerson Evans. The game headed into the final frame with Fort Frances clinging to a 1 goal lead.
Just under 3 minutes into the 3rd Lumberjacks rookie Jack Carruthers tied the game on a rocket wrist shot from the top of the circles. Exactly 2 minutes of game time later Wisconsin took a 5-4 lead as Dillon Phillips buried a shot deflected off a shin pad. Fort Frances wouldn’t go away quietly, with under 8 minutes left as Brody Lindal recorded his 3rd point of the net scoring on the power play. It looked as though the game were headed to overtime but Wisconsin lost 2 offensive zone faceoffs in the last minute and the Lakers were able to convert it into instant pressure and a goal in front of the net to secure the win.
Jack Orchard stopped 30 of 35 and logged the win. Riley Burnett made 37 saves and picked up the loss. The two teams will play again on Saturday Night.
1st Star – Nolan Fowler, 2 goals
2nd Star – Dillon Phillips, 1 goal and 1 assist
3rd Star – Brody Lindal, 2 goals and 1 assist