SUPERIOR INTERNATIONAL JUNIOR HOCKEY LEAGUE
SIJHL COMMUNICATIONS
MEDIA UPDATE
Release Date: Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2014
Lakers clinch regular season crown
FORT FRANCES, Ont. – A Lucas Debenedet power play goal with 7:56 remaining in regulation proved to be the difference as the Fort Frances Lakers edged the Wisconsin Wilderness 3-2 in Superior International Junior Hockey League play at Ice for Kids Arena.
The victory means Fort Frances has clinched the SIJHL 2013-14 regular season crown now boasting 88 points with a 42-6-2-2 record. They cannot be caught by second place Thunder Bay for top spot as they trail the Lakers by 11 points with just five games remaining.
This marks the first regular season title for a Fort Frances-based club since the 2002-03 campaign when the Borderland Thunder finished first overall before going on the defeat the Thunder Bay Bulldogs in five games in the Bill Salonen Cup final.
The Lakers jumped out to a 2-0 lead after 20 minutes on tallies by Aaron Wesley-Chisel four minutes in and Mason Meyer at 8:45.
Alex Rezansoff pulled the Wilderness to within one with the only tally of the middle frame as he beat Jordan Cartney five minutes into the session.
Darrick Howard had a second goal for Wisconsin in the third, but Debenedet’s league-leading 45th marker of the season stood up as the winner.
Fort Frances outshot the Wilderness 42-25 on the night with Cartney picking up the win and Grifin Strain suffering the loss.
SIJHL action continues Wednesday as the Lakers travel to Ear Falls to take on the English River Miners at 7 p.m.