FORT FRANCES, Ont. – The Dryden GM Ice Dogs stormed out to a 3-0 first period lead and never trailed as they went on to defeat the Fort Frances Lakers 6-2 in a Superior International Junior Hockey League encounter Friday at Ice for Kids Arena.
Dryden were strong early as they tallied three times before the first period was 10 and a half minutes old on markers Trygve Many Guns, Evan Pakkala and Kyle Sargent, with his initial SIJHL goal, to chase Fort Frances starter Matt Booth.
Action in the second stanza saw the GM Ice Dogs extend their cushion at 3:50 as Cameron Coutre struck shorthanded beating Jacob Gnidziejko, who had come in to replace Booth in the first.
The Lakers got on the board midway through the second as Dane Bateman connected on the power play.
Many Guns got that back for Dryden later in the frame though as he collected his second of the night.
Ryan Brandt’s initial league tally made it 6-1 GM Ice Dogs at 4:07 of the third before Nate Drobnick rounded out the scoring for the home side.
Tyler Browning and Braden Shea both had two assists each to aid the winners’ cause.
Dryden out shot Fort Frances 42-26 on the night with Jordan Wilde picking up the win.
Booth suffered the loss while Gnidziejko stopped 31 of 34 in lengthy relief.
Photo credit: Clint Bruyere