Lakers re-sign netminder Dushenko

FORT FRANCES LAKERS JR. A HOCKEY CLUB

Media Update

Release date: Thursday, July 16, 2015

Lakers re-sign netminder Dushenko

FORT FRANCES — The Superior International Junior Hockey League champion Fort Frances Lakers announced Thursday the re-signing of goaltender Pierce Dushenkso for the 2015-16 season.

The Coquitlam, B.C. product, who turns 20 next week, posted an 11-2 record in 15 regular season appearances in 2014-15 and also helped Fort Frances advance all the way to the final of the Dudley-Hewitt Cup Central Canada Jr. A championship.

“We are very happy to have Pierce back in the fold for next season,” said Lakers head coach and general manager Wayne Strachan.

“It was somewhat of a relief for me to here those words “I want to return to the team” when we talked the other night on the phone,” added Strachan.

“He was outstanding for us last year going 11-2 and I cannot say enough about what he did in the Dudley-Hewitt Cup,” stated the Fort Frances bench boss and GM.

“Pressed into action in our third round robin game vs. Dryden after not playing a lot throughout the playoffs he came up big to help us advance to the semifinal round. In the semifinal where we jumped out on Toronto and they gave us everything in the second and third he stopped 16 shots in the third to prevail the win and advance to the finals. He did everything he could to give us a chance to win in the final making many big saves, surmised Strachan.”

“As a coach and in that moment when you have to call upon that guy who maybe hasn’t seen action in sometime to come up big you never know how it may turn out. But in this case when I knew Pierce had to go in I was confident in every aspect that he would be the guy that could help our team have success and the back bone we needed to try and obtain our goals. He has good character, is a nice respectful person who works hard and I am confident Pierce will return hungry and wanting to excel even more on his performance last season.”