DRYDEN, Ont. – Malcolm Huemmert tallied twice and dished out an assist on the game-winner as the Dryden GM Ice Dogs went on to defeat the Fort Frances Lakers 5-2 in Superior International Junior Hockey League action Wednesday evening at Memorial Arena.
It was Huemmert who opened the night’s scoring nine minutes into the contest as he sped in alone down the right before cutting in front of Fort Frances starter Alex Bugeja and lifting in a backhand.
The Lakers drew level at 14:55 of the first with Tyler Malpass wheeling out of the corner and burying a shot from slot during a two-man advantage.
However, Huemmert connected once more before the frame was complete as some crafty stick work and a spin move allowed him time to stuff in his nine of the season from close range.
Dryden then went up by a pair 13:30 into the second stanza after forcing a turnover, a slick passing play from Huemmert and Josh Weber finished up with Cortez Favot taking a cross-crease feed and putting in his third of the campaign.
In the final frame, Fort Frances pulled back to within one while shorthanded as Cooper Witherspoon had a clear-cut breakaway and knocked in a second attempt with 9:02 to go.
But still on the power play, the home side answered a half minute later when Weber collected his ninth marker of the season.
The GM Ice Dogs then secured the decision in the final moments when Evan Pakkala, who chipped in with three points, put one into an empty net to round out the scoring.
Shots on goal in the contest finished up 37-35 in favour of the Lakers with Jacob Anthony picking up the win while Bugeja suffered the loss.
With the victory, the GM Ice Dogs improved to 13-10-1-0 on the year and moved into second spot in the SIJHL standings, one point ahead of the idle Red Lake Miners, who do however hold three games in hand.
In defeat, the Lakers slipped to 10-11-1-0 overall.
Photo credit: John Butts