The Fort Frances Lakers will go into the playoffs as the team to beat.
For the second straight campaign the Lakers will finish as the top regular season team in the Superior International Junior Hockey League, officially clinching that distinction with an 8-3 win over the English River Miners Friday night.
Fort Frances (36-9-1) still has 10 games remaining on their schedule but have an insurmountable lead over the Minnesota Iron Rangers (25-17-6), Thunder Bay North Stars (25-21-4) and Dryden Ice Dogs (24-21-24), who are all battling for the second seed.
Earning the top seed guarantees the Lakers home-ice advantage throughout the postseason.
This is the fourth time a Fort Frances team has captured the league regular season crown.
The regular season is scheduled to wrap up on March 14.
