SUPERIOR INTERNATIONAL JUNIOR HOCKEY LEAGUE
SIJHL MEDIA UPDATE
Release Date: Wednesday, April 20, 2016
Photo credit: Michael Christianson, Dryden Observer
Lakers’ Dushenko shuts out GM Ice Dogs to knot SIJHL final at 2-2
DRYDEN, Ont. – The Fort Frances Lakers rode the shutout goaltending of Pierce Dushenko and added power play goals in the second and third period to blank the Dryden GM Ice Dogs 2-0 Wednesday evening in Game 4 of the Superior International Junior League Bill Salonen Cup final at Memorial Arena.
With the decision the best-of-seven series is now tied 2-2 heading into Game 5 Friday at 7:30 p.m. at Ice for Kids Arena in Fort Frances. Game 6 is slated for Saturday in Dryden at 7:30 p.m.
In Wednesday’s contest the opening 20 minutes was evently matched with the Lakers holding the edge in shots by a narrow 10-9 margin.
Fort Frances capitalized early in the middle session thanks to a man advantage opportunity that carried over from the first frame.
The eventual game-winning marker came 28 seconds into the period after Nick Minerva one-timed a shot from the left side that Dryden starter Troy Pierce saved, but could not control the rebound, that was jammed in by A.J. Rupert from in close.
It stayed 1-0 for the visitors until past the midway point of the third when Nolan Ross swiped the puck off a GM Ice Dogs defender during a power play and fed a wide-open Dylan Robertson in front where the SIJHL MVP made no mistake as he buried his chance past Pierce for an all-important insurance goal.
Dryden pulled their netminder with just over two minutes to go and with a Lakers player in penalty box had a late chance to get back in it, but Dushenko and his defensive corps shut the door to secure the win.
In all Dushenko stopped all 35 shots fired his way as he posted the shutout.
Pierce saved 25 of 27 in a losing cause for the GM Ice Dogs.
The Bill Salonen Cup champion 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 2-2
Game 1: Dryden 6 Fort Frances 2
Game 2: Fort Frances 2 Dryden 1
Game 3: Dryden 4 Fort Frances 1
Game 4: Fort Frances 2 Dryden 0
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