SIJHL Media Update

Release date: Wednesday, April 4, 2012

Fort Frances takes 2-1 series lead with game 3 victory

FORT FRANCES, Ont. – The Fort Frances Lakers built up a four-goal third period lead then had to withstand a late comeback bid by the Wisconsin Wilderness as they held on for a 7-5 victory Wednesday in game 3 of the Superior International Junior Hockey League Bill Salonen Cup championship series at Ice for Kids Arena.

With the win the Lakers now lead the best-of-seven final 2-1 heading into game 4 Thursday back in Fort Frances. Game time is 7:30 p.m.

Fort Frances opened the scoring at 11:13 of the opening period as Jaret Leclair took a Henry Gutierrez drop pass and whipped a low shot from the left side past Wisconsin goalkeeper Tanner Milliron.

The Lakers then chased Milliron a couple minutes later as Ryan Wildman fed Jordan Christianson who converted on a power play opportunity sending the Wilderness netminder to the bench in favour of Gordy Defiel.

The change appeared to spark the visitors as they cut the deficit in half late in the stanza as Andrew Anderson banged home his sixth tally of the playoffs with 1:50 to go.

A quick start in the middle session saw Fort Frances strike again with the man advantage as Adam Wensley was left alone at the top of the crease as jammed the puck over Defiel’s pad to make it 3-1 at the two-minute mark.

Moments after a breakaway stop by Defiel in the late stages of the second, Pizza Hut player of the year Byron Katapaytuk made no mistake with his opportunity as he wired one into the top corner to send the Lakers to the dressing room up three after 40 minutes.

Special teams saw the Lakers net a shorthanded goal as Wensley notched his second of the evening two minutes into the third.

Shane Topf of Wisconsin answered right back just 20 seconds later to trim the margin to 5-2.

A Jordan Larson blast seemingly put the game out of reach at 5:40, but the Wilderness were quick to respond again as Patrick Hurley beat Tyler Ampe 19 seconds after that.

The power play then allowed Wisconsin to pull within two with 5:37 to go and they then made it 6-5 a minute later courtesy of Anthony Calabrese.

With less than two minutes remaining Defiel was pulled in favour of an extra attacker as the Wilderness went in search of the equalizer, but Katapaytuk ended it with a long empty net effort as his shot from deep in his own territory sailed down the ice into the open cage in the waning moments.

Ampe made 28 saves to raise his postseason record to 8-2 in the win.

Defiel was saddled with the loss in relief facing 15 shots while Milliron save eight attempts in his time between the pipes.

The SIJHL champion will advance to the Dudley-Hewitt Cup Central Canadian Jr. A championship, which runs April 17-21 at the Fort William Gardens in Thunder Bay.

SIJHL Bill Salonen Cup
No. 1 Wisconsin Wilderness vs. No. 2 Fort Frances Lakers
Fort Frances leads best-of-seven series 2-1

Schedule
Game 1: Fort Frances 4 Wisconsin 2
Game 2: Wisconsin 6 Fort Frances 5 (OT)
Game 3: Fort Frances 7 Wisconsin 5
Game 4: Thursday, April 5 @ Fort Frances 7:30 p.m.
Game 5: Saturday, April 7 @ Wisconsin 7 p.m.
Game 6*: Monday, April 9 @ Fort Frances 7:30 p.m.
Game 7*: Wednesday, April 11 @ Wisconsin 7 p.m.

*-if necessary