SUPERIOR INTERNATIONAL JUNIOR HOCKEY LEAGUE
SIJHL COMMUNICATIONS
MEDIA RELEASE
Release Date: Thursday, Dec. 5, 2013
Majerle magical as Iron Rangers defeat Lakers
FORT FRANCES – Erick Majerle made 41 saves while A.J. Rupert tallied twice as the Minnesota Iron Rangers surprised the Superior International Junior Hockey League-leading Fort Frances Lakers 5-2 Thursday evening at Ice for Kids Arena.
Tyne Tuneberg staged the visitors to the lead after one period of play as he connected on the power play five minutes into the contest.
Minnesota then extended their lead to 3-0 by the midway point of the contest getting markers from Rupert and Eric Madison.
Fort Frances got on the board at 15:17 of the middle stanza as recent newcomer Jason Berube notched his first SIJHL goal.
Kevin Kurm then pulled the Lakers to within one 3:59 into the final frame only to see the Iron Rangers’ Trevor Hoth counter just 25 seconds later.
Rupert then added another in the latter stages to round out the scoring in a game that saw them out shot 43-26 on the evening.
Majerle came up big for his side to earn the victory keeping Fort Frances off the score sheet despite eight man advantage opportunities the Lakers had on the night.
Jordan Carney faced those 26 attempts in a losing cause as the SIJHL front-runners lost for the first time in regulation dating back to opening night, Sept. 20, when they fell 4-3 to Thunder Bay marking a span of 24 games where they did not register at least one point.
With the victory Minnesota improved to 14-7-0-3 on the season while Fort Frances slipped to 21-2-0-2 overall.
SIJHL action resumes Friday as the Iron Rangers head to Dryden to take on the Ice Dogs with the North Stars welcome the English River Miners to the Fort William Gardens in a pair of 7:30 p.m. starts.