The Fort Frances Lakers new season in the SIJHL is underway.

The Lakers dropped a 4-1 game to the Dryden GM Ice Dogs Friday.

Head coach Tyler Miller finalized the opening day roster earlier this week, with eight returnees and eleven from Fort Frances and area.

Nolen Rideout is one of the returning players.

He says team chemistry is one of the strong points going into the new season.

“We’re lucky to have a lot of local kids this year that have played with each other, like growing up or in midget, and then obviously, all of us returners played together for last year and some of us for a few years before that. So there’s a lot of camaraderie around the team right now, and we got a good group of guys in the dressing room,” says Rideout.

Netminder Gunnar Paradis hails from Thunder Bay.

He played in three games with the Lakers during the 2021-22 season, returning home last season to play in the Lakehead Junior Hockey League.

Paradis is looking forward to the team’s fortunes turning around.

“I’m hoping that we come out better than the last couple of years, obviously, and I think it should be better than the last couple. Got a good team, good coaching staff, and fans, hopefully bring out a good crowd,” says Paradis.

The Lakers’ home opener is September 29 against the defending champion Kam River Fighting Walleye.