SUPERIOR INTERNATIONAL JUNIOR HOCKEY LEAGUE
SIJHL MEDIA UPDATE
Release Date: Tuesday, April 19, 2016
Photo credit: Michael Christianson, Dryden Observer
Dryden regains series lead with Game 3 triumph over Fort Frances
DRYDEN, Ont. – The Dryden GM Ice Dogs rode the strength of a three-goal first period to help them eventually defeat the Fort Frances Lakers 4-1 Tuesday in Game 3 of the Superior International Junior League Bill Salonen Cup final at Memorial Arena.
With the result, the GM Ice Dogs now lead the best-of-seven set 2-1 with Game 4 going Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. CT back in Dryden.
The hosts came out quickly grabbing early control of the contest notching the night’s initial tally at 2:48 as Kent Walchuk collected his fourth of the playoffs.
The GM Ice Dogs then got the eventual game-winner at 6:07 with Derek McPhail scoring as Tanner Watt and Troy Williams added assists.
Fort Frances got one back midway through the first on Jaden Gustafson’s first of the postseason.
Dryden countered that with a Nathan Avery man advantage effort at 16:36 as they took a 3-1 lead into the middle stanza.
Neither side would score in the second period as the home side held on to their two-tally cushion entering the final frame.
In the third, the GM Ice Dogs put the game away late with a second power play with 12 seconds to go as Nic Noseworthy rounded out the scoring as he finished off a Matt Houston feed into an empty net..
Troy Pierce stopped 16 of the 17 shots fired his way to record the win for Dryden while Pierce Dushenko faced 23 attempts in defeat for the Lakers.
The Bill Salonen Cup will advance to represent the SIJHL at the Dudley-Hewitt Cup Central Canada Jr. A championship, May 3-7 in Kirkland Lake, Ont.
All SIJHL playoff games are available online at FASTHockey.com.
SIJHL Bill Salonen Cup (Series D)
No. 1 Fort Frances Lakers vs. No. 2 Dryden GM Ice Dogs
Dryden leads best-of-seven series 2-1
Game 1: Dryden 6 Fort Frances 2
Game 2: Fort Frances 2 Dryden 1
Game 3: Dryden 4 Fort Frances 1
Game 4: Wednesday, April 20 @ Dryden 7:30 p.m. (Memorial)
Game 5: Friday, April 22 @ Fort Frances 7:30 p.m. (Ice for Kids)
Game 6*: Saturday, April 23 @ Dryden 7:30 p.m. (Memorial)
Game 7*: Tuesday, April 26 @ Fort Frances 7:30 p.m. (Ice for Kids)
*-if necessary