The Lac La Biche Lakers finished out 2024 with an 8-3 home victory against the Claresholm Thunder, a team from the southern reaches of the National Junior Hockey League, on Saturday, Dec. 21 at the Bold Center.
The Lakers kept the Thunder off the scoreboard entirely during the first period of Saturday’s game, while Braden Swampy, with help from teammates Patrick Bourque and Aden Sherman, quickly got into attacking mode and acquired the team's opening goal.
Brayden Swedgen scored the Lakers' second goal and teammate Larry Flett got the puck past Claresholm’s defenses soon after to give the Lakers a commanding 3-0 lead going into the second period.
While the Thunder’s Kaden Joachin managed to score a goal minutes into the second period, it wasn’t enough to put a dent in the Lakers’ momentum – especially after the home team scored four more goals before the end of the second and one more in the third. The Thunder could only manage two additional markers in response.
As the Lakers wrap up the first half of their inaugural season in the NJHL, Lac La Biche’s newest sports franchise currently holds fourth spot in its five-team NJHL North Division.
Since the beginning of the season in late September, the Lakers have a record of nine wins and 14 losses.
The team will be back on the ice at the Bold Centre on Friday, Jan. 3 for a contest against the Northern Alberta Lightning.
