Miners Defeat Ice Dogs To Advance To SIJHL Finals

1 Day after not being able to close out the series at home, the Red Lake Miners travelled down Highway 105 to Dryden to face the Ice Dogs in Game 6. Kiev Kineshanko would be the starting goalie for the Miners while Dryden would stay with Cole Johnston between the pipes.

For the first time in the series the Miners would get on the scoreboard first.  Jordan Baranesky pounced on rebound at 3:07 of the first period beating Johnston for a 1-0 lead.  Baranesky would make it 2-0 at 8:09 redirecting a Ryan Howe shot past Johnston. Miners controlled the play in the first period and after 20 minutes of play the Miners lead 2-0 and outshoot the Ice Dogs 19-11.

Second Period action saw Jordan Baranesky complete his hat trick.  At 11:06  Baranesky blocked a shot in his own end then snuck past the defenceman and slid the puck past Johnston as he was being pulled down from behind for a 3-0 Miners lead. Dryden would get on the board at 14:13 when Tristan Takats was sprung on a breakaway just getting out of the penalty box and beat Kineshanko.  Ryan Howe would restore the Miners 3 goal lead 22 seconds later ripping a wrist shot past Johnston which would be the end of Johnston’s night. Eric Clark would enter the game in goal for the Ice Dogs. After 40 minutes of play the Miners lead 4-1 and hold the edge for shots 38-20.

Third period action saw the Miners go 0 for 2  in penalty shot attempts with Clark stopping both shots.  Jordan Baranesky would finish off the nights scoring with his 4th of the night at 19:19 into the empty net. Final score Miners 5 Ice Dogs 1.  Shots on goal Miners 45 Ice Dogs 26.

The Miners defeat the Ice Dogs in a series for the first time since the Miners inaugural 2013-14 season  to make the SIJHL finals for the third time in franchise history.