SUPERIOR INTERNATIONAL JUNIOR HOCKEY LEAGUE
SIJHL MEDIA UPDATE
Release Date: Saturday, Sept. 6, 2014
Fort Frances tops English River in shootout in preseason play
FORT FRANCES, Ont. – A Mason Meyer goal in the fourth round of the shootout was the difference as the Fort Frances Lakers edged the English River Miners 3-2 Saturday evening in Superior International Junior Hockey League preseason play at Ice for Kids Arena.
After a scoreless opening period, Alex Rezansoff put the Lakers on the board in the late going of the second stanza.
English River would tie it midway through the third thanks to Cody Colby and would then take the lead at 12:26 courtesy of Alex Maticic.
Fort Frances answered back 55 seconds later to force overtime when Rezansoff notched his second of the evening and fourth of the preseason.
Neither side would convert during the five-minute OT so extra shots were needed to determine a winner.
In the shootout each team connected on their first two attempts with Colton Spicer and Carter Chorney scoring for the Lakers along with Eric Champage and Maticic for the Miners.
Rezansoff and Kirk Coppock of English River were then thwarted in round 3 before Meyer won it on his chance for Fort Frances. Matthew Ray was denied on the Miners’ final opportunity to end it.
Stirling Wright started for the Lakers and stopped all 15 attempts he saw in 30 minutes of work with Devin Day turning aside 19 of 21 in relief.
P.D. Melgoza kicked out all 14 pucks he faced in his stint in net for English River while Jesse Fontaine suffered the shootout setback allowing two against on 15 chances in playing the second half of the contest.
Next up on the SIJHL preseason slate sees Fort Frances heading to Hoyt Lakes, Minn., Tuesday to take on the Minnesota Iron Rangers in a 7 p.m. start at Hoyt Lakes Arena.
Shootout Results
Fort Frances
1. Colton Spicer, Goal
2. Carter Chorney, Goal
3. Alex Rezansoff, Miss
4. Mason Meyer, Goal
English River
1. Eric Champagne, Goal
2. Alex Maticic, Goal
3. Kirk Coppock, Miss
4. Matthew Ray, Miss