**LAC LA BICHE** – The Lac La Biche Lakers wrapped up the 2024-25 regular season with wins against the Edson Eagles and Gibbons Pioneers.
The Lakers, who start their first round in the National Junior Hockey League (NJHL) this week, were in Edson on Feb. 28 to hand the Eagles a 5-2 defeat. The team returned to home ice on March 1 to take on the Gibbons Pioneers, winning that contest 11-4.
The Lakers, who began their inaugural season in the NJHL in October, hold second place in the five-team NJHL North Division, one rung below the Eagles.
Peyton Moneyes was provided with assistance from teammates Grayson Dion and Braden Swampy when he scored the opening goal of the Feb. 28 away game against the Eagles.
While Edson’s Ryan Schnider evened the scoreboard a few minutes later, Lac La Biche’s Carl Horseman, assisted by team captain Larry Flett, scored a goal to give the Lakers a 2-1 advantage going into the second period.
Both NJHL squads stayed off the scoreboard throughout the second period.
The Eagles’ Austin Berezowski got the puck past Lac La Biche’s defenses in the opening minutes of the third period, tying the game 2-2.
The game, however, wouldn’t stay tied for very long.
Following the Edson goal, Lac La Biche forward Kaden Cardinal scored. Grayson Dion and Ethan Christian acquired one point each to give the Lakers their 5-2 victory.
Lakers’ forward Jaron Shirt scored three of the 11 goals that the team acquired during their meeting with the Gibbons Pioneers at the Bold Centre on March 1.
Cardinal and Moneyes scored the Lakers’ opening goals of the game against the Pioneers.
Grayson Dion, Gavyn Dion, Regan Anderson and Shirt got one goal apiece before the buzzer sounded to end the first period.
The Lakers continued to dominate the game throughout second period, with Shirt getting two more goals and Cardinal and Anderson each scoring one again. Caleb Kornelson scored his first goal of the evening in the second period.
The Lakers’ first playoff game gets underway on March 7 at 7:30 p.m. when the team hosts the High Prairie Red Wings at Lac La Biche’s Bold Centre.
The Lakers travel to High Prairie on March 8 for another game against the Red Wings, and return to home ice the following day for a third match against their rivals in the NJHL North Division. Gametime for the March 9 game at the Bold Center is 7:30 p.m.