Nolan wins SIJHL award

Fort Frances Lakers’ forward Jacob Nolan became the first player to win an SIJHL year-end award after being named the league’s most sportsmanlike player this morning.
Nolan, a 20-year-old from Geraldton, had just eight penalty minutes in 48 games this season, to go along with 12 goals and 26 assists.

After joining the Lakers early in the season after the Sioux Lookout Flyers suspended operations, Nolan made an immediate impact for his new team in a variety of ways.
He also was saluted for his efforts by winning the Lakers’ most sportsmanlike player award during the team’s awards banquet earlier this month.
Tyson Holder (Dryden Ice Dogs) and Joseph Drapluk (Minnesota Wilderness) were the other nominees for the league award.
This marks the second time in three years that a Lakers’ player has won the most sportsmanlike player trophy.
Former captain Tyler Stevenson took home the honours in 2011.
Prior to that, A.J. Tucker captured the award in 2003 while a member of the now-defunct Borderland Thunder.
Nolan and the rest of the Lakers will kick off their best-of-seven semi-final series against the Dryden Ice Dogs tonight at the Ice for Kids Arena.
The puck drops at 8 p.m. (not the half-hour later start time).
Game 2 then goes tomorrow at 7:30 p.m. before the series shifts to Dryden for Games 3 and 4 on Monday and Tuesday.