LAC LA BICHE - The Lac La Biche Lakers started off 2025 with a pair of wins against the Edson Eagles, who currently hold the top spot in the five-team National Junior Hockey League (NJHL) North Division.
Lac La Biche beat the Eagles 6-4 at the Edson and District Leisure Centre on Jan. 17. The Lakers then hosted Edson at the Bold Center the following day, where they finished with a second 6-4 victory.
Friday
The Eagles’ Alysik Buffalo scored the only goal of the first period, giving his team an early 1-0 lead on Friday.
The Lakers dominated the scoreboard during the second period, achieving five goals within 20 minutes. Forward Ethan Christian shot three of those goals, while Larry Flett and Patrick Bourque scored one goal each before the period concluded.
The game’s third period kicked off with Buffalo and fellow Eagle Landy Johnson each getting the puck past Lac La Biche’s defences, bringing the score to 5-3. With around five minutes remaining in the third period, the Lakers’ Peyton Moneyas scored the team’s sixth goal of the evening.
Saturday
During Saturday’s rematch between the two teams, the Lakers kept their NJHL rivals off the scoreboard until the second period. Christian shot the puck past Eagles goaltender Carter Sapach twice during the first period, while Flett had one goal.
The second period started off with Flett acquiring the Lakers’ fourth goal of the evening. Following this, the Eagles got their wings back, scoring three consecutive goals to push the game 4-3. In the dying seconds of the second period, Moneyas attained his first goal of the match, giving the Lakers a 5-3 lead.
Throughout the course of the third period, Edson’s Ryan Schnider and Lac La Biche’s Eli Moyah got one goal each.
While the Eagles are currently the leaders in their NJHL North Division, the Lakers hold fourth spot, one rung above the last-place Gibbons Pioneers.
The Lakers will be back in action on Jan. 24 when they take on the Northern Alberta Lightning at the Bold Center. Game time is 7:30 p.m. The team is on the road on Jan. 25 for a game against the High Prairie Red Wings.
