Fort Frances rookie defenseman enjoying life in Manitoba
Lucas Bailey is enjoying what he refers to as “a super competitive first year” with the Portage Terriers of the Manitoba Junior Hockey League (MJHL).
“We have a great environment with everyone pushing each other to get better every day. I think knowing what Coach (Blake) Spiller’s reputation is throughout Canadian junior hockey raises the bar within our team and just makes us want to compete more and win behind the type of coach we have,” said Bailey.
That reputation includes eight league championships, four MJHL Coach of the Year award wins and three times named as the Canadian Junior Hockey Leagues (CJHL) Coach of the Year. Spiller is behind the bench for his 20th season after signing a three-year extension last June.
Bailey admits there were some adjustments within the group early on, adding “many of us had never met so it took a little bit of time away from the rink to really get to know each other. Most of the guys golf so when it was still warm enough early in the season lots of matches were played with guys you didn’t necessarily know well. I think that definitely helped gel the team early on.”
Bailey is one of two players from Fort Frances that’s playing in the MJHL with the other being veteran defenceman Evan Kabel with the Steinbach Pistons.
Before coming to Manitoba, Bailey skated in the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League (GOJHL) with the St. Thomas Stars. He collected 27 points in 45 games with the Junior B affiliate of the London Knights of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL).
“There is definitely a sense of pride being able to play in this league as well established as it is, regardless of where you’re from,” added Bailey. “But I’m very grateful knowing where I come from and how tough it can be to find a place to play as good as Portage.”
Coming to Portage didn’t happen right away for Bailey because of a Hockey Canada rule.
“This opportunity originates back to my Under-18 season where I played in the Western Regionals in Winnipeg,” recalled Bailey. “They were able to get a first chance to watch me and then invited me to spring camp which I attended. Due to the rules of Hockey Canada and being Under 18, Portage wasn’t much of an option for me last year. However, when coach Spiller reached out to invite me back to fall camp, I didn’t have to think twice.”
Bailey did play in the Superior International Junior Hockey League (SIJHL) with the Thunder Bay North Stars when he played in a handful of regular season and playoff games during the 2023-2024 season.
“Going into that year, I had long talks with my family about wanting to play junior in my Under 17 season with the Fort Frances Lakers but ultimately decided to head back for another year of AAA Hockey in Thunder Bay where I thought I might be able to get more opportunities to get noticed by different teams,” mentioned Bailey.
“I knew I wanted hockey to take me outside of Northwestern Ontario hockey but didn’t know exactly how long to play in it before I would get that opportunity to play in a spot like Portage.”
DRYDEN GM ICE DOGS
The Ice Dogs saw their ten-game winning streak get snapped in Thunder Bay on November 14th.
Despite this, they have the fourteenth spot in the CJHL Top 20 rankings.
UPCOMING GAME SCHEDULE
Friday November 21 @ Ironwood Lumberjacks
Saturday November 22 @ Ironwood Lumberjacks
Friday November 28 vs. Dryden GM Ice Dogs
Saturday November 29 vs. Dryden GM Ice Dogs
Friday December 5 @ Kam River Fighting Walleye
Saturday December 6 @ Kam River Fighting Walleye
FORT FRANCES LAKERS
A four-game winning streak has the Lakers just three points back of the Ice Dogs entering their match-up this week. They also earned an honourable mention in the CJHL Top 20 rankings.
UPCOMING GAME SCHEDULE
Friday November 21 vs. Kam River Fighting Walleye
Saturday November 22 @ Kam River Fighting Walleye
Friday November 28 @ Dryden GM Ice Dogs
Saturday November 29 @ Dryden GM Ice Dogs
Friday December 5 @ Thunder Bay North Stars
Saturday December 6 vs. Thunder Bay North Stars
KAM RIVER FIGHTING WALLEYE
The Fighting Walleye have won their last two games against the Ironwood Lumberjacks after opening the month of November with three consecutive losses.
UPCOMING GAME SCHEDULE
Friday November 21 @ Fort Frances Lakers
Saturday November 22 vs. Fort Frances Lakers
Friday November 28 vs. Sioux Lookout Bombers
Saturday November 29 vs. Sioux Lookout Bombers
Friday December 5 vs. Dryden GM Ice Dogs
Saturday December 6 vs. Dryden GM Ice Dogs
RED LAKE MINERS
The Miners have lost eight games in a row and have managed just six goals in four defeats during the month of November.
UPCOMING GAME SCHEDULE
Friday November 28 vs. Thunder Bay North Stars
Saturday November 29 vs. Thunder Bay North Stars
Tuesday December 2 vs. Sioux Lookout Bombers
Friday December 5 @ Ironwood Lumberjacks
Saturday December 6 @ Ironwood Lumberjacks
SIOUX LOOKOUT BOMBERS
Following a convincing home ice weekend sweep of the Ironwood Lumberjacks, the Bombers have victories in just two of their past seven games entering play this week.
UPCOMING GAME SCHEDULE
Friday November 21 vs. Thunder Bay North Stars
Saturday November 22 vs. Thunder Bay North Stars
Friday November 28 @ Kam River Fighting Walleye
Saturday November 29 @ Kam River Fighting Walleye
Tuesday December 2 @ Red Lake Miners
THUNDER BAY NORTH STARS
The North Stars are unbeaten in regulation time in November (4-0-1) with their last loss coming against the Bombers on October 31st.
UPCOMING GAME SCHEDULE
Friday November 21 @ Sioux Lookout Bombers
Saturday November 22 @ Sioux Lookout Bombers
Friday November 28 @ Red Lake Miners
Saturday November 29 @ Red Lake Miners
Friday December 5 vs. Fort Frances Lakers
Saturday December 6 @ Fort Frances Lakers
