SUPERIOR INTERNATIONAL JUNIOR HOCKEY LEAGUE
SIJHL COMMUNICATIONS
MEDIA UPDATE
Release Date: Monday, March 24, 2014
English River advances to SIJHL semifinals
DRYDEN, Ont. – A Ryley Pace power play tally with 2:19 remaining snapped a tie game as the English River Miners edged the Dryden Ice Dogs 3-2 Monday evening in game 6 of their Superior International Junior Hockey League quarter-final at Memorial Arena.
With the result the Miners win the best-of-seven series 4-2 and now advance to the semifinals vs. the top ranked Fort Frances Lakers.
The Thunder Bay North Stars take on the Minnesota Iron Rangers in the league’s other semifinal match-up.
English River got off to a great start in this one getting a pair of first period goals from their captain Royce King to grab a 2-0 lead after one period of play.
The Ice Dogs pulled to within one with the lone effort of the middle stanza as Zach Kercz struck on the power play at 14:09.
Dryden carried the play in the third as they pressed for the equalizer and were rewarded as affiliate Eric Sinclair tied it with 4:07 remaining in regulation.
However the Miners won it during a man advantage as Pace’s attempt towards the net deflected off a Dryden defender and in past Ice Dogs netminder Shayne Dietl in what turned out to be the game and series-winning tally.
Dietl thwarted Taylor Bargar on a penalty shot attempt with 59 seconds to go to keep his side in it in the final minute, but Greg Harney stood tall in the English River net the entire night finishing with 38 saves in a game that saw his team get out shot 40-17 overall.
Each of the semifinal series best-of-seven schedules will be released once they are finalized.
Quarter-final
No. 4 English River Miners vs. No. 5 Dryden Ice Dogs
English River wins best-of-seven series 4-2
Game 1: English River 6 Dryden 2
Game 2: Dryden 3 English River 1
Game 3: Dryden 4 English River 2
Game 4: English River 6 Dryden 3
Game 5: English River 7 Dryden 4
Game 6: English River 3 Dryden 2