FORT FRANCES, Ont. – A Chase Robideau goal 13:40 into the third period proved to be the game-winner as the Fort Frances Lakers went on to defeat the visiting Red Lake Miners 5-3 in Superior International Junior Hockey League action Saturday at Ice for Kids Arena.
Reece Hopfner got the Lakers going offensively 84 seconds after the opening face-off as he notched his fourth tally of the season.
Red Lake got that back midway through the first off, the stick of Keegan Tiringer only to see Noah Loveday put Fort Frances back on top a few minutes later.
The back and forth affair saw the Miners’ Connor Jacobs tie it once more with the lone marker of the middle stanza as the two sides went to the intermission knotted at 2-2.
Taking advantage of a power play chance, Kirk Coppock put the Lakers back in front at 5:41 of the third as he picked up his 10th of the year. He also dished out two assists for a three-point night.
Robideau then doubled the Fort Frances cushion as they went up by two with 6:20 remaining in regulation.
Continuing to battle, Red Lake drew closer once more as Bryce Young collected his league-leading 33rd with two and a half minutes to go.
However, Nick Lucas helped secure the victory with an empty netter for the Lakers.
Matt Booth made 33 saves to record the win for Fort Frances while Zach Willms saw 38 attempts fired his way in defeat for Red Lake.
Photo credit: Clint Bruyere