SUPERIOR INTERNATIONAL JUNIOR HOCKEY LEAGUE
SIJHL MEDIA UPDATE
Release Date: Sunday, April 17, 2016
Photo credit: Joey Payeur, Fort Frances Times
Lakers tie Bill Salonen Cup final at home
BY JOEY PAYEUR, FORT FRANCES TIMES
FORT FRANCES, Ont. – Wayne Strachan called Game 1 of the Bill Salonen Cup final the Fort Frances Lakers’ worst outing of the season.
In just three days, the two-time defending SIJHL champions came quite a long way.
Roshen Jaswal and SIJHL MVP Dylan Robertson had third-period goals and Pierce Dushenko had a fantastic 40-save night as the Lakers rallied for a 2-1 victory over the Dryden GM Ice Dogs in Game 2 of the best-of-seven championship showdown at the Ice for Kids Arena in Fort Frances tonight to tie the series 1-1.
The Ice Dogs, fresh off a 6-2 shellacking of the Lakers in Game 1, looked to be on their way to a repeat performance when Joe Carney’s point shot during a four-minute power play on Nick Minerva’s double minor for high sticking got past a screened Dushenko at 1:13 of the first period to make it 1-0.
Dushenko and Troy Pierce exchanged one great save after another through the first 40 minutes to leave it a one-goal game entering the third.
Just after a Fort power play expired, though, Roshen Jaswal lasered a low shot from the right point off the far post and in behind Pierce 25 seconds into the frame to square the affair 1-1.
The Lakers picked up their play even further and broke through for the game-winner at 5:30 after Christian Ripley sped down the left wing past a defender and feathered a pass to Robertson, who stormed up the middle and put the puck top shelf over Pierce.
Dryden couldn’t score on two later power play opportunities and almost gave up a third goal in the final minute after Pierce was cited for throwing his stick to prevent an empty-net shot attempt from centre by the Lakers.
Davis Ross took the penalty shot, but lost the puck off his stick when he deked in front of Pierce with 51.7 seconds left to play.
The Lakers held firm from there to move to 5-1 this postseason and make themselves winners of 13 of their past 14 games.
Pierce wound up with 30 saves in defeat for the Ice Dogs.
The battle resumes on Tuesday in Dryden at 7:30 p.m.
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
Best-of-seven series tied 1-1
Game 1: Dryden 6 Fort Frances 2
Game 2: Fort Frances 2 Dryden 1
Game 3: Tuesday, April 19 @ Dryden 7:30 p.m. (Memorial Arena)
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