SUPERIOR INTERNATIONAL JUNIOR HOCKEY LEAGUE
SIJHL MEDIA UPDATE
Release Date: Friday, April 17, 2015
Lakers double up Ice Dogs to move within a win of Bill Salonen Cup crown
FORT FRANCES, Ont. – The Fort Frances Lakers got a pair of goals from Colton Spicer to help lead them to a 6-3 victory over the Dryden GM Ice Dogs Friday evening in Game 5 of the Bill Salonen Cup Superior International Junior Hockey League championship series at Memorial Arena.
With the win, the Lakers now lead the best-of-seven series 3-2 heading into Game 6 Saturday in Dryden at Memorial Arena starting at 7:30 p.m.
The power play allowed the visitors to open the scoring as GM Ice Dogs defenceman Kyle Pouncy’s effort beat Lakers starter Nathan Park with assists going to Cole Golka and Nathan Philley.
Nick Minerva of Fort Frances answered that with a man advantage effort of his own at 13:45 as he fired past Dryden netminder Tate Sproxton to knot the affair at 1-1 through one period of play.
Spicer put the home side up a goal six and a half minutes into the middle stanza as the Lakers’ forward drove his way into the high slot and snapped one past Sproxton.
Mason Meyer’s slick move in front allowed Fort Frances to go up by a pair late in the second as he tucked a backhand between the legs of Sproxton with an unassisted effort at 18:46.
The Lakers added to their cushion 3:39 into the final frame with their second power play marker of the night as Dylan Robertson capped off a crisp three-way play with Wyatt Cota and Bryson Jasper by ripping one into the Dryden net.
Dryden pulled to within two as Eric Masters snapped one off the post and in following a Blake Peavey pass at 7:32.
Fort Frances countered that however a minute and a half later as Robbie Bonthron blasted one by a Ice Dogs defender and by Sproxton.
The two sides then traded two more tallies in the latter stages of the contest with Jonathon Philley connecting for Dryden and Spicer countering for the Lakers just over a minute later to round out the scoring.
Cota had a pair of assists for Fort Frances on the night as did the Ice Dogs Golka.
Final shots on goal were 37-33 in favour of the winners with Park picking up the decision and Sproxton the defeat.
SIJHL BILL SALONEN CUP FINAL
Fort Frances Lakers vs. Dryden GM Ice Dogs
Lakers lead best-of-seven series 3-2
Game 1: Fort Frances 6 Dryden 2
Game 2: Dryden 5 Fort Frances 4
Game 3: Dryden 3 Fort Frances 2 (OT)
Game 4: Fort Frances 3 Dryden 2
Game 5: Fort Frances 6 Dryden 3
Game 6: Saturday, April 18 @ Dryden 7:30 p.m. (Memorial)
Game 7*: Tuesday, April 21 @ Fort Frances 7:30 p.m. (Ice for Kids)
*-if necessary