The Fort Frances Lakers opened their Superior International Junior Hockey League semifinal playoff series last week with a pair of home victories over the Dryden Ice Dogs.
A four-goal second period helped propel the Lakers to a 6-1 victory over the Ice Dogs on Thursday night in game one of the best-of-seven series at Ice for Kids Arena.
Fort Frances opened the scoring midway through the first period when Tyler Brodersen beat Dryden starting goalie Eric Szymczyk for the only goal of the period.
The final Fort Frances goal came in the third period from Falls High School graduate Alex Bruess to round out the night’s scoring.
Talor Joseph turned aside 21 of 22 attempts to pick up the victory. Szymczyk faced 24 shots while allowing five goals in a losing cause for Dryden.
Lakers 3, Ice Dogs 2
The hometown Lakers built a 3-0 lead, then withstood a late comeback bid by the Ice Dogs to pull out Friday’s victory at Ice for Kids Arena, 3-2.
Davis Smith gave the Lakers an the early lead as he beat Dryden’s starting goalie, Szymczyk, 3:43 into the contest for the lone goal of the opening period.
After a scoreless second period, Fort Frances increased its lead just over four and half minutes into the third when Brodersen scored to make it 2-0.
Then with the Lakers shorthanded late in third period, Dryden pulled Szymczyk to gain an additional extra skater advantage, but Bruess slipped the eventual game-winner into an open net with just over two minutes left to put Fort Frances up by three.
Ice Dogs 4, Lakers 1
Needing a win to get back into the SIJHL playoff series with the Lakers, the Ice Dogs got a big performance from rookie forward Rory Court to lead them to a 4-1 victory Monday evening in game three held at Dryden Memorial Arena.
The 18-year-old Court scored twice.
Game four of the series took place Tuesday night in Dryden. Game five is set for 7:30 p.m. Thursday in Fort Frances.
