Local Sports for Friday February 25

Judy LaBelle's Fort Frances rink remains unbeaten following day one play at the Northern Ontario senior curling championships at the Fort Frances Curling Club.

Labelle defeated Barb McEwan of Thunder Bay 10-5 then held on for a 9-8 win over Rosyln Broman, also of Fort Frances.

Broman won her opening draw, 9-3 over Roma Lundgren of Sudbury.

The women are back on the ice at 9:30 a.m. today with LaBelle facing Marion Clark of Thunder Bay while Broman is up against McEwan



Ken Anderson of Red Lake, Bruce Munro of Sudbury and Ian Fisher of Sault Ste. Marie are tied for the early lead on the senior men's side following opening round play last night.

The men are back on the ice at 2 p.m. this afternoon.



Fort Frances Lakers rallied for three goals in the third to defeat Sioux Lookout 4-2.

The win, combined with Thunder Bay's 4-3 overtime lost to Duluth, clinches second spot for the Lakers who will open the SIJHL playoffs against Wisconsin.



A goal with just over a minute to go gave Duluth Marshall a 3-2 win over the International Falls Broncos boys hockey team, eliminating the Broncos from the Section 7A championship.

Michael Bounds and Michael Misner scored the Falls goals.



Fort Frances Muskies hockey teams begin playoff action this weekend.

The girls team is in Dryden tonight for the start of its semi-final series with the Eagles.

Game 2 will go Sunday at the Ice for Kids Arena.

The boys team hosts Red Lake at the Ice for Kids Arena in the first of a best of 3 semi-final on Saturday.


Fort Frances Lakers head coach Wayne Strachan has been named SIJHL coach of the year.

It's the third time Strachan's won the award.

He won the award with the Borderland Thunder in 2002 and the Fort Frances Sabres in 2008.



Fort Frances Thunderhawks and the Kenora Thistles are facing each other this weekend in a challenge for the Gary Cook Cup.

Although the teams have earned berths to the Allan Cup playoffs, it was decided to hold a series of games leading up to the tournament, putting the Northwestern Ontario championship trophy on the line.



Fort Frances Muskies senior boys basketball team goes for the NWOSSA title this weekend with games in Thunder Bay against the Superior Collegiate Griffins.



Former Fort Frances resident Duncan Keith has been named British Columbia's male athlete of the year.

Keith, who now calls Penticton home, was honoured his play in Chicago's Stanley Cup victory last spring and with Canada's Gold Medal winning hockey team at the Vancouver Olympics.