Medina’s Fenton stars in goal for Rochester Junior Americans

Photo by Mike Wertman – Medina’s Lawson Fenton enjoyed an outstanding season in goal for the division champion Rochester Junior Americans Empire Division hockey team.

It’s been a breakthrough year on the ice for Medina High junior Lawson Fenton who helped lead the Rochester Junior Americans Empire Division team to the Northern Conference regular season championship in the United States Premier Hockey League.

“It was a great season. By far it’s the best team I’ve been on. We really bonded as a team, like a family, and that really helped our success,” said Fenton who was the No. 1 goalie for the Junior Americans squad which posted a 36-3 record to claim the title.

Lawson went 25-2 in goal with a goals against average of 2.71 and a save percentage of .910 during that successful title run. He then helped lead the Americans into the playoffs where they lost in the semifinals to the Boston Jr. Bruins.

“We’ve got great coaches and great goalie training,” said Fenton.

The title season marked a remarkable reversal of fortunes from the year before when Fenton, who was coming off a broken leg suffered while playing soccer, played in goal for a struggling Buffalo Stars squad that went 2-36.

“That’s exactly what I needed,” said Fenton of his season with the Stars. “Coming back after breaking my leg in soccer, it made me stronger as a player.”

His strong performance in the nets for the Stars was impressive enough for the Junior Americans to sign him for this season.

“We knew we had something special when we signed Lawson,” Junior Americans head Coach Jeff Kolcon is quoted as saying in a story on Fenton on the team’s website.

Photo courtesy of the Rochester Junior Americans – Lawson Fenton in action in goal for the Junior Americans.

“I love the organization. I couldn’t have asked for a better team to go to,” said Fenton who has also played soccer and baseball for Medina High but points to hockey as clearly his favorite sport.

“I excelled at it more than I did soccer or baseball so it’s easier to enjoy,” said Fenton who is now playing tournament hockey.

He also relishes playing in the pressure position of goalie.

“It’s a whole different aspect of the game,” said Fenton of playing goalie. “You’re in your own zone back there.”

And the past two years of competition in the Empire Division has also helped him boost one key element of goaltending – his confidence.

“Playing with this team at this level of competition has helped increase my confidence,” said Fenton who has already signed to play for the Junior Americans Empire Division team next year.

And after that his first goal to to play in the Premier Division and after that to play college and or pro hockey.

“Playing in the Premier Division is the next goal,” said Fenton. “And after that playing college hockey and or getting drafted are definitely goals.”