SUPERIOR INTERNATIONAL JUNIOR HOCKEY LEAGUE
SIJHL MEDIA UPDATE
Release Date: Thursday, April 7, 2016
Fort Frances completes sweep of English River to advance to Bill Salonen Cup
COCHENOUR, Ont. – The Fort Frances Lakers are off to their fifth consecutive Bil Salonen Cup in the Superior International Junior Hockey League.
Fort Frances earned their way to the SIJHL final after defeating the English River Miners 6-3 Thursday at Cochenour Arena to sweep their best-of-seven semifinal series 4-0.
They will now advance to take on either the Dryden GM Ice Dogs or the Thunder Bay North Stars in the league championship series.
In Thursday’s match-up, after Dylan Kooner gave the Lakers the early lead, Mike Norris tied it for the Miners at 6:29 during an English River power play.
Fort Frances went back in front 99 seconds into the middle session thanks to an Andrew Willner effort only to see Alex Maticic level the proceedings during a man advantage opportunity at 12:56.
The visitors then struck twice in the latter stages of the second to go up by a pair as Nick minerva and Davis Ross both beat Miners starter Korlan Vader.
Riley Wagner brought the home side back to within one with 9:10 to go, but Christian Ripley added some insurance for Fort Frances two minutes later while Nolan Ross iced it with a late empty netter to close out the series.
Brandon Bodnar made 30 saves to record the win for the Lakers while Vader faced 27 attempts in a season-ending loss for English River.
All SIJHL playoff games are available online at FASTHockey.com.
SIJHL semifinal schedule (Series B)
No. 1 Fort Frances Lakers vs. No. 5 English River Miners
Fort Frances wins best-of-seven series 4-0
Game 1: Fort Frances 7 English River 4
Game 2: Fort Frances 4 English River 2
Game 3: Fort Frances 5 English River 1
Game 4: Fort Frances 6 English River 3