SUPERIOR INTERNATIONAL JUNIOR HOCKEY LEAGUE
SIJHL MEDIA UPDATE
Release Date: Tuesday, Jan. 24, 2017
Lakers slam Iron Rangers in SIJHL Showcase opener
THIEF RIVER FALLS, Minn. – The Fort Frances Lakers got two tallies apiece from Jared Virtanen and Cody Merritt as part of a big offensive outburst as they went on to thump the Minnesota Iron Rangers 8-1 Tuesday afternoon in the opening game of the Superior International Junior Hockey League Showcase at Ralph Engelstad Arena.
Merritt going Fort Frances going 3:41 into the contest only to see Jonathan Yanovsky come right back for Minnesota with the equalizer a couple shifts later.
The Lakers regained the lead in the latter stages of the first period as Jack Bernie and Julian Uhryniuk scored 48 seconds apart to go up 3-1 after one.
Fort Frances blew the game open in the middle stanza as they struck five times to take control of the contest.
Virtanen started the barrage in the first minute of the second to extend his side’s cushion.
Dylan Kooner’s 25th and Mark Richter’s first added to the Laker’s lead before Virtanen and Merritt, into an empty net, wrapped things up in the session.
Maverick Lynes chipped in with two assists for the winners.
Brandon Bodnar made 33 saves to record the victory while Jackson Nelson faced 42 attempts in defeat for the Iron Rangers.
Next up at the SIJHL Showcase sees the league-leading Dryden GM Ice Dogs taking on the second place Thunder Bay North Stars at 4:15 p.m. CT before the day concludes with the Thief River Falls Norskies facing off with English River at 7:30 p.m. CT.
All SIJHL Showcase games will be streamed live online at HockeyTV.com.