Tuesday, April 30, 2013

Local Sports For Wednesday April 17

Joel Bogacki of the Fort Frances Lakers has been named the SIJHL's RBC scholastic award recipient.

The honour comes with a one-thousand dollar scholarship to help defer costs of a post-secondary education.

Bogacki also becomes the league's nominee for the national scholastic player of the award to be announced during this year's Royal Bank Cup.



Game three of the SIJHL finals between the Fort Frances Lakers and Minnesota Wilderness goes tonight in Cloquet.

The series is tied 1-1.



Junior hockey may be coming to the Red Lake-Ear Falls area.

Kevin Kahoot is leading the charge to bring a team into the SIJHL.

Kahoot says they're in the early stages, but will hold a meeting in Red Lake Monday to discuss their proposal with the public.



A pair of players from Fort Frances have been selected to play for Northwestern Ontario in the upcoming OHL Gold Cup.

Netminder Brandon Bodnar, who plays in the Thunder Bay Kings organization and Fort Frances Muskies defenceman Carter Brown will be part of the region's team competing in the showcase event next month in Kitchener.

That team will be coached by the Lakers bench boss Wayne Strachan.



A tough start for the Kenora Thistles at the Allan Cup in Red Deer Alberta.

They dropped a 5-2 decision to the host Bentley Generals.

Former Thunderhawk Ross Johnson of International Falls getting one of the Thistles goals.

The Kenora team faces Rosetown, Saskatchewan tonight.



Some of the top High School badminton players in northern Ontario are in Dryden today for the NWOSSA Championship.

A trip to the All-Ontario finals is at stake.

Local Sports For Tuesday April 16

Allan Cup gets underway in Red Deer for the Kenora Thistles.

They play their first game tonight against the Bentley Generals of Alberta.

The team includes several former members of the Fort Frances Thunderhawks.



Coaches with the two Minnesota teams in the SIJHL have been named co-winners of the league's coach the year award.

Chris Walby of the Minnesota Iron Rangers and Rod Aldoff of the Minnesota Wilderness narrowly edged out three-time winner Wayne Strachan of the Fort Frances Lakers for the award.

It's the second time in the league's 12-year history that there's been co-winners of the award.

Local Sports For Monday April 15

Jon Carlson's power play goal 6 minutes into overtime gave the Fort Frances Lakers a 2-1 win over the Minnesota Wilderness at the Ice for Kids Arena last night.

The win evens the SIJHL final series at one-one.

John Dora forced overtime for the Lakers with a power play marker with just over 3 minutes left in the third.

Game 3 goes Wednesday back in Cloquet.



Rainy River Voyageurs women's softball team took five of six games played on the weekend.

They first swept Vermilion Friday 9-1 and 5-2.

Saturday, they swept by Northland 13-4 and 4-0, but split games with Mesabi East, losing 6-5 and winning 4-3.



A Fort Frances teen will be playing soccer in Thunder Bay this summer.

15-year-old Claire Hyatt has been selected to play for the Thunder Bay Chill's under 17 girls reserve squad, following try outs on the weekend.



Allan Cup gets underway in Red Deer with the Kenora Thistles representing Ontario.

The team, which includes several former members of the Fort Frances Thunderhawks, plays its first round robin game tomorrow.

Local Sports For Friday April 12

The Northwestern Ontario all-stars wrapped up play at the all-Ontario peewee championship in Thunder Bay with a 5-1 loss to Sudbury's Nickel City.

No Fort Frances players figured in the scoring.

The Stars, coached by Mike Allison of Fort Frances, finished with five losses and a tie.



Game one of the SIJHL finals is to open tonight in Cloquet with the Fort Frances Lakers taking on the defending champion Minnesota Wilderness.

Wilderness won the season series, winning six of nine games.

Game two will be played at the Ice For Kids Arena on Sunday.



St. Cloud Huskies were dumped 4-1 by Quinnipac in the semi-finals of the NCAA men's hockey champions.

Ryan Faragher of Fort Frances was in net for the loss.



Final four in the Fort Frances Women's Volleyball League playoffs is set.

6th ranked "Dig This" forced top ranked Gillons' Cougars to the B-side in advancing while Scared Hitless moved on the semi finals beating Notorious DIG.

Gillons' then beat Bump It Up to reach the B-side semis against 8th ranked Kiss My Pass who eliminated Notorious D.I.G.

Playoff wrap up next Thursday.




Falls High School track teams were involved in the Snowflake Invitational at Bemidji State.

The boys teams finished 8th overall while the girls played 12th.

Jason Pumper in the triple jump and Nick Janttie in shot put each placed 3rd in their respective events.

3rd place finishes were also scored by Hailey Fentum in girls hurdles and Savannah Olson in the shot put, throwing a career best.



Members of the Fort Frances Aquanauts swim team are competition this weekend in Kenora.

They're taking part in a northwestern Ontario swim meet.

Tuesday, April 23, 2013

Local Sports For Thursday April 11

Northwestern Ontario all-stars have been eliminated from reaching the playoff round at the all-Ontario peewee hockey championship in Thunder Bay.

The Stars lost 11-3 to Mississauga and 6-0 to Elgin-Middlesex, leaving them winless after five games.

They will round out the tournament with a game today against Nickle City.



Emo's Luke Judson has been named rookie of the year on Lakehead University's men's hockey team.

Judson led the team in goals with 22 and finished eleven overall in the OUA in scoring.

Judson joined the Thunderwolves after five seasons with Belleville in the OHL.



Laureen Peters notched a hat trick as Boston Pizza blanked Peters Plumbing and Heating 5-0.

Tanya Hughes and Joleigh Hayes had Boston's other goals.

Cater 2 U over Leon's Fort Frances and Fit Lifestyles and Conditioning over Wright Physiotherapy were won by forfeits.

Local Sports For Wednesday April 10

Northwestern Ontario all-stars remain winless at the all-Ontario pee-wee championship in Thunder Bay after falling 6-2 yesterday to York-Simcoe.

Jared Neniska of Kenora and Matthew Binguis of Sioux Lookout provided the Stars scoring.

Matthew Booth of Fort Frances was saddled with the loss after giving up five goals in two periods of play.

The Stars face Elgin-Middlesex tonight.

Local Sports For Tuesday April 9

The Northwestern Ontario All-stars have earned their first point at the all-Ontario pee-wee hockey championship in Thunder Bay, tying the host Kings last night 1-1.

Jared Neniska of Kenora scored for the Stars while Matthew Booth of Fort Frances was between the pipes for the second straight game.

The Stars opened the tournament yesterday morning with an 8-0 loss to Ottawa.

They face York-Simcoe this afternoon.



Fort Frances Girls Women's Hockey Association holds its annual general meeting tonight

It's taking place at the 52 Canadians board room beginning at 6:30 p.m.

New members are welcome to attend.



Steve Arpin is taking his driving skills to rally racing.

After competing briefly in NASCAR's Nationwide and Truck series the last couple of years, the Fort Frances native says he'll be running full time with a team in the Global Rallycross Championships.

Monday, April 8, 2013

Local Sports For Monday April 8

A Fort Frances curling team is off to a national competition.

Kathie Jackson and her foursome capture the northern Ontario Dominion Curling Club Women's title on the weekend in Sault Ste. Marie.

Jackson defeated Janice Ventorettri of Sudbury 6-2 in yesterday's final.

Jackson, along with Teresa McFayden, Lisa Penner and Kris Sinclair, will compete in the national event in Thunder Bay in November.



Falls High School girls track team captured an indoor meet Saturday at the University of Wisconsin.

The team's 4 by 800 and 4 by 200 relay teams captured first place honours in their events.

Eight others also found the podium, including Hailey Fentem who earned second in both the long jum and high jump.



The all-Ontario peewee hockey championship begins today in Thunder Bay with the Northwestern Ontario All-Stars involved.

The team's coached by Mike Allison of Fort Frances and includes several members of the Fort Frances Canadians peewee squad.

Their first game is this morning against Ottawa.



Rainy River Voyageurs men's baseball team was shut out on the win column in its games on the weekend in La Crosse, Wisconsin.

Saturday they dropped a pair to Rochester Community and Technical College 8-4 and 17-3.

Yesterday the Voyageurs were felled 7-1 and 9-1 by Minnesota State Community and Technical College-Fergus Falls.



The Borderland Soccer Association holds its annual general meeting tonight.

It taking place at the 52 Canadians Conference room beginning at 7 p.m.

The election of officers and a discussion of the 2012 and the upcoming season are on the agenda.


Local Sports For Friday April 5

Kathie Jackson and her Fort Frances rink open play this morning at the northern Ontario Dominion Curling Club women's championship in Sault Ste. Marie.

Her rink is one of six vying for a spot to the national event set for Thunder Bay in November.



Teams in the Fort Frances Women's Volleyball League are into playoff action.

First matches last night saw Kiss My Pass getting by Smash losing to Gillion Cougars.

Fort Frances Muskies defeated I'd Hit That before losing to Notorius DIG in second round play.

Dig This over Just Hit This and Scared Hitless over Bump It Up also advanced along the championships division.

Losers drop to the B-side for a second change to reach the final.

Local Sports For Thursday April 4

Five high school badminton players, four from Rainy River High School, are NORWOSSA champions.

Rainy River's Skylar Arpin took the senior girls title at championships played in Kenora.

Taylor Whitehead of Fort Frances claimed the singles title in senior boys.

Shawna Moen and Logan Jackson of Rainy River combined for the senior mixed crown.

Hailey Arpin of Rainy River won the junior girls championship.

All five advance to the NWOSSA championships in two weeks time in Dryden.



The top goal scorers in the Borderland Women's Indoor Soccer League kept pace with each other last night.

League leader Jessica Caul scored twice as Peter's Plumbing and Heating played to a 4-4 draw with Wright Physiotherapy.

Alexis Hampe and Katie Stearns also scored for Peter's.

Rebecca Selman, Andrea Bell-Perreault, Heather Wright and Nicole Renberg replied for Wright's.

Laureen Peters scored twice as Boston Pizza beat Leon's Fort Frances 4-1.

Tanya Hughes and Ana Stopa also scoring for Boston.

Kim Cousineau replying for Leon's.

Fit Lifestyles and Conditioning forfeited its game to Cater 2 U.



Dates for the SIJHL championship have been set.

The best-of-seven affair between Fort Frances Lakers and the Minnesota Wilderness will alternate home dates beginning April 12 in Cloquet.

The Lakers host game 2 April 14.



Rainy River Voyageurs women's hockey team is building for next season.

The team has signed Taylor Durocher, a defenceman and forward Shania Rhinehart to letters of intent.

Both hail from southern Saskatchewan and skated together on the same team in the Saskatchewan Female AAA midget hockey league.

Voyageurs coach Evan Amdahl says the signings make the club instantaneously better.

Local Sports For Wednesday April 3

Fort Frances Lakers will battle for the SIJHL championship with the Minnesota Wilderness.

The Lakers beat Dryden 3-2 in overtime at the Ice For Kids Arena in the seven and deciding game of their semi-final series.

The home team was down two-nothing before Jon Carlson notched a pair of late third period goals, the second coming with 15 second left in regulation, to force overtime before Jordan Christianson notched the series deciding goal 16-minutes into OT.

Dates for the final have yet to be announced.



Falls High School boys track team placed 16th overall at the Little Amik meet in Bemidji.

The teams best showings came in the pole vault where Jalaeb Ettestad was 5th and in the high jump with Jason Pumper coming in 6th.



A Canadian playing on Rainy River Voyageur's women's softball team has been named player of the week in the MCAC's northern division.

Kristen Cruickshank of Regina went 8 for 17 at the play in six games played against some strong Florida competition.



Rainy River Voyageurs have swept the weekly player honours in men's baseball as well.

Greg Roark of Florida was named pitcher of the week in the MCAC northern division after earning a win in relief by tossing 3 innings of no-hit ball in a game against Anoka-Ramsey.

Riley Acra of Wisconsin was player of week, going four for seven in the series.

Tuesday, April 2, 2013

Local Sports For Tuesday April 2

Fort Frances and Dryden will need a seventh and deciding game to determine a winner in their SIJHL semifinal series.

Mason Meyer's goal early in the third served as the winner as the Lakers beat the Ice Dogs in Dryden last night 4-1 to bring the series back to the Ice For Kids Arena for tonight.

Kevin Kurm and Jordan Christianson with a pair rounded out the Lakers scoring.

Local Sports For Monday April 1

After taking the first two games of the series, the Fort Frances Lakers find themselves in a must-win situation against Dryden.

Game six of the SIJHL semi-final series goes tonight in Dryden after the Ice Dogs won their third straight Thursday night in overtime.



The SIJHL has named Mike Dietrich of the Minnesota Wilderness as player of the year.

Dietrich led the league in scoring.

The Lakers Jordan Christianson was a nominee 



Kenora Thistles will play for the Allan Cup.

The Thistles, which features several former members of the Fort Frances Thunderhawks, swept Brantford in a weekend series in Kenora to advance to the Senior Hockey tournament next week in Red Deer, Alberta.

Kyle Turgeon of Fort Frances had a goal in Saturday's win while Ross Johnson of International Falls scored twice and Atikokan's Dan McIntyre added another in the series opener on Friday.



Former Fort Frances Sabres netminder Ryan Faragher backstopped St. Cloud State to a 4-1 win over Miami of Ohio to advance to the NCAA frozen four.

The Division 1 men's hockey championship takes place in Pittsburgh next week.



Rainy River Voyageurs men's baseball team split a pair of games played Saturday against Anoka- Ramsey at the Metrodome in Minneapolis.

The Voyagers dropped the opener 4-3, but bounced back for an 8-4 win in the second.

Local Sports For Thursday March 28

A four-goal night by Jessica Caul paced Peter's Plumbing and Heating to a 5-0 win over Leon's Fort Frances in the Borderland Women's Indoor Soccer League.

Jaymee Fiset had the other goal for Peter's.

Elsewhere, Alyssa Holiday scored twice as Cater 2 U beat Wright Physiotherapy 3-1.

Fit Lifestyles and Conditioning won over Boston Pizza by forfeit.



Game 5 of the SIJHL semi-final series between the Fort Frances Lakers and the Dryden Ice Dogs goes tonight at the Ice For Kids Arena.

The series is deadlocked at two wins each.

Local Sports For Wednesday March 27

The semi-final series between the Fort Frances Lakers and Dryden Ice Dogs has become a best-of-three affair.

The Ice Dogs evened the series at two wins each with a 7-4 victory over the Lakers last night in Dryden.

Jon Carlson with a pair, Kevin Kurm and Jordan Christianson scored for Fort.

The series shifts back to the Ice For Kids Arena for Game 5 tomorrow.



In the other semi-final series, the Minnesota Wilderness have a 3-game to nothing lead on the Minnesota Iron Rangers following a 4-1 win last night.



Another award for a member of the Fort Frances Lakers.

Colton Spicer has been named the SIJHL's most improved .

Spicer had 56 points this year, 36 more than last season.

Last week, Jacob Nolan won most sportsmanlike honours.



Track and field teams at Falls High School were indoors at the Paul Bunyan Classic in Bemidji.

The girls team finished 7th overall with Savanah Olson in shot put, Lexi Erickson in the 32-hundred metre run and the 4-by-200 metre relay team all earning second place showings.

The boys team was 15th with Paul Skoglund's 5th place finish in the 60 metre hurdles the best placing. 



Two members of the Rainy River Voyageurs ball teams are the among the season's first player of the week award winners from the MCAC.

Ty Paddock earned Northern Division honours in men's baseball after pitching a 7-inning complete game 1-hit win over Itasca while battling .571 in three games.

Oashaja Dobie was selected pitcher of the week in women's softball after tossing 21 scoreless inning while striking out 42.