SPOONER, Wis. – Miles Nolan and Cameron Jackson had a goal and an assist each to help lead the Fort Frances Lakers past the English River Miners 5-2 Wednesday in game 2 of the Superior International Junior Hockey League’s Showcase at the Spooner Ice House.
After a scoreless first period the league-leading Lakers were quick to connect in the second session as Cody Wickstrom sent Lyndon Lipinski streaking down the right side and he made no mistake firing a quick shot past Greg Harney in the English River net.
A couple minutes later Nolan made it 2-0 Fort Frances as he stuffed in his eighth of the season at 2:16.
The Miners used special teams to pull within one late in the middle stanza as John Morales connected on the power play as he stuffed in a loose puck past a sprawled Devin Tappenden in the Fort Frances net with a minute and half to go in the period.
The Lakers extended their lead midway through the final frame as Brent Aiken went short-side on Harney at 9:50.
Dominic Blouin made it a one-goal game once again with four and half minutes to go as he buried a loose puck from in close for his 10th tally of the campaign.
Jackson then added some insurance for Fort Frances during a two-man advantage whistling his first SIJHL goal just under the crossbar at 16:30.
Mason Meyer then capped off the scoring in final minute to finish things off.
Tappenden recorded his first SIJHL victory in the contest making 26 saves while Harney suffered the loss seeing 46 attempts fired his way.
Day 1 action at the SIJHL Showcase concludes at 8 p.m. CT when the Dryden Ice Dogs take on Wisconsin Wilderness.
The opener saw Thunder Bay edge Minnesota 3-2 thanks to Zach Grzelewski’s game-winner with 6:26 remaining.
Three more Showcase games go Thursday back in Spooner with the Miners and Iron Rangers tangling at 1 p.m. CT, the Lakers and Ice Dogs meeting at 4:30 p.m. before concluding at 8 p.m. CT with the North Stars and Wilderness.
GAME SCHEDULE
DAY 1
Wednesday, Jan. 22
Thunder Bay 3 Minnesota 2
Fort Frances 5 English River 2
Dryden vs. Wisconsin 8 p.m.
DAY 2
Thursday, Jan. 23
Minnesota vs. English River 1 p.m.
Fort Frances vs. Dryden 4:30 p.m.
Wisconsin vs. Thunder Bay 8 p.m.
