Fort Frances Lakers

Fort Frances Lakers
CityFort Frances
LeagueSIJHL
Founded2007
Home arenaMemorial Sports Centre
Colours  Black
  Purple
  Silver
OwnerFort Frances Lakers Hockey Association
General managerLuke Judson
Head coachLuke Judson
Websitefortfranceslakers.com
Franchise history
2007–2009Fort Frances Jr. Sabres
2009–presentFort Frances Lakers

The Fort Frances Lakers are a junior ice hockey club and franchise of the Superior International Junior Hockey League (SIJHL) based in Fort Frances, Ontario, Canada. The club is owned by the non-profit Fort Frances Lakers Hockey Association.

History

Jr. Sabres

Founded in 2007, the Fort Frances Jr. Sabres were the first junior A team to play in Fort Frances since the Fort Frances Borderland Thunder left the Superior International Junior Hockey League (SIJHL) after four seasons in 2005. The Borderland Thunder wanted to play in the Manitoba Junior Hockey League, but chose to go on hiatus when they did not receive clearance for the transfer. The Sabres new ownership group, led by Carolyn Kellaway, were approved as the seventh member of the SIJHL in 2007.[1][2]

Sabres celebrate an overtime victory (2007)

On September 14, 2007, the Fort Frances Jr. Sabres played their first game at home against the Thunder Bay Bulldogs, defeating the Bulldog 5–1 and also claiming their first team victory.[3] Alessio Tomassetti scored the team's first goal 3:14 into the first period. Goaltender Ryan Faragher, a Fort Frances native, earned the win while making 29 saves.[4]

Lakers

In the summer of 2009, the Fort Frances team nearly folded. With the Thunder Bay Bearcats and Schreiber Diesels leaving the SIJHL, the ownership of the Sabres decided to pull their team out of the 2009–10 season despite initially telling the press and the league that the team was operating and would not be sitting out during the coming season. It was later revealed the franchise would be sold to new ownership, but as the season drew nearer, the team had not found a buyer. In an effort to keep the team alive, the community took over the franchise and turned it into a non-profit organization.[5] On September 10, 2009, the team rebranded by changing their name to the Lakers.[6]

Lakers action in 2011

The reborn community-owned Lakers played their first game as a non-profit organization on September 17, 2009, in Fort Frances against the defending league champion Fort William North Stars in their home opener. The Lakers lost 5–2 with an empty net goal. A night later, the Lakers won the first game of their new era by defeating the expansion Thunder Bay Wolverines in Thunder Bay 3–2.

Season-by-season

SeasonGPWLTOTLPtsGFGAResultsPlayoffs
2007–0850222143511731835th SIJHLLost Quarterfinals, 0–3 (Diesels)
2008–09503017—3631991393rd SIJHLWon Quarterfinals, 3–0 (Flyers)
Lost Semifinals, 1–4 (Bearcats)
2009–10521433—5331532515th SIJHLWon Quarterfinals, 4–3 (Wolverines)
Lost Semifinals, 2-4 (Ice Dogs)
2010–11563419—3712081742nd SIJHLLost Playoff Seeding game, 1–2 (Wilderness)
Lost Semifinals, 2–4 (Ice Dogs)
2011–12563712—7812551662nd SIJHLWon Playoff Seeding game, 2–1 (Wilderness)
Won Semifinals, 4–0 (Ice Dogs)
Lost League Finals, 3–4 (Wilderness)
2012–13563518—3732081652nd SIJHLWon Semifinals, 4–3 (Ice Dogs)
Lost League Finals, 3–4 (Wilderness)
2013–1456466—4962951501st SIJHLWon Playoff Seeding game, 6–4 (North Stars)
Won Semifinals, 4–0 (Miners)
Won League Finals, 4–3 (Iron Rangers)
2014–15564311—2882541971st SIJHLWon Semifinals, 4–1 (North Stars)
Won League Finals, 4–2 (Ice Dogs)
2015–1656468—4962491401st SIJHLWon Semifinals, 4–0 (Miners)
Won League Finals, 4–2 (Ice Dogs)
2016–17562425—7551882015th of 6 SIJHLWon Play-in Series 3–1 (Norskies)
Lost Semifinals 0–4 (Ice Dogs)
2017–18561532—9391722415th of 6 SIJHLWon Quarterfinals, 3–1 (Miners)
Lost Semifinals, 1–4 (Ice Dogs)
2018–19561835—3391772375th of 6 SIJHLLost Quarterfinals, 0–3 (Ice Dogs)
2019–20542127—6481742146th of 6 SIJHLSeason cancelled
2020–21550—028410Season cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic[7]
2021–22415351011831957th of 7 SIJHLLost Quarterfinals, 0–3 (Ice Dogs)
2022–2354941—1221343017th of 7 SIJHLLost Quarterfinals, 1-4 (Ice Dogs)
2023–2449123133301442277th of 8 SIJHLLost Quarterfinals, 0–4 (Bombers)
2024–2550202172491461756th of 8 SIJHLLost Quarterfinals, 3–4 (North Stars)
2025–26483770278181981st overallTo be determined

Source: "Fort Frances Lakers statistics and history". hockeydb.com. Retrieved 4 April 2026.

Dudley Hewitt Cup

Central Canada Jr. A Championships'
NOJHL – OJHL – SIJHL – Host
Round-robin play with 2nd vs. 3rd in semifinal to advance against 1st in the championship game.

YearRound-obinRecordStandingSemifinalChampionship
2014L, Toronto Lakeshore Patriots 1–4
L, Wellington Dukes 0–3
W, Kirkland Lake Gold Miners 6–3		1–2–03rd of 4L, Toronto Lakeshore Patriots 0–6—
2015
Host		OTW, Toronto Lakeshore Patriots 2–1
L, Soo Thunderbirds 3–6
W, Dryden Ice Dogs 5–3		2–1–03rd of 4W, Toronto Lakeshore Patriots 6–4L, Soo Thunderbirds 2–3
2016L, Kirkland Lake Gold Miners 5–8
L, Soo Thunderbirds 5–6
L, Trenton Golden Hawks 0–3		0–3–04th of 4Did not advance

References

  1. ↑ "Strachan-coached Jr. Sabres revealed as new team in Fort Frances". Fort Frances Times. 20 June 2007.
  2. ↑ "Jr. Sabres to seek town's support". Fort Frances Times. 27 August 2007.
  3. ↑ "Sabres kick off season with win, tie". Fort Frances Times. 17 September 2007.
  4. ↑ "Sabres start first season off on right foot". Fort Frances Times. 19 September 2007.
  5. ↑ "Local group hoping to keep junior team alive". Fort Frances Times. 26 August 2009.
  6. ↑ "Fort Frances Lakers are born". Fort Frances Times. 11 September 2009. Retrieved 4 April 2026.
  7. ↑ "SIJHL CANCELS 2020-21 SEASON". SIJHL. 1 March 2021.
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