‘Definitely returning’

Joe McWilliams
Lakeside Leader

The Slave Lake Icedogs’ playoff run was brief, lasting just two days. Those were Monday and Tuesday of last week, when they bowed out to the Fox Creek Ice Kings, by scores of 11 – 1 and 11 – 3.

In the first game, the Icedogs had only seven skaters dressed for the game, due to some suspensions. Patrick Bourque scored Slave Lake’s only goal, and Francis Iron Jr. played the game in net, facing 59 shots.

On Tuesday, the Icedogs had a fuller squad, and fared a little better. In fact seven minutes in they were leading 2 – 1, after goals by Bourque and Jayden Okemow. But the visitors poured it on and ran away with it. Okemow scored the other Slave Lake goal as well. Iron had the goaltending job, making 57 saves.

Fox Creek advanced to play High Prairie in one semi-final series. In the other, the Northern Alberta Tomahawks and Edson Eagles will face off.

The Icedogs’ management has a big off-season task of recruiting a competitive squad. How that goes remains to be seen, but team owner/president Lauren Barr says, “we will definitely be returning.”