Gas Drive Cup Final is set after the Saints captured the North Division Championship.
Lloydminster Bobcats @ Spruce Grove Saints (North Finals Game #5 Saints lead 3-1)
Jake Mykitiuk scored twice, and Matthew Murray made 24 saves as the Saints topped the Bobcats 4-1.
Jake Mykitiuk (assists to Brandon Biro and Trey Fix-Wolansky @3:00) wrist shot was stopped, but Bobcats (starting) goaltender Alex Leclerc knocked the puck into his goal. Kevin Darrar (assist to Christian Lloyd @7:53) redirected a centering pass under the pad of Saints (starting) goaltender Matthew Murray. Shots favored Spruce Grove 13-9.
On a goal mouth scramble Jake Mykitiuk (assists to Nicolas Correale and Brandon Biro @3:11) would poke his second of the night into the back of the net. Shots were 13-6 Saints in the second and 26-15 in the hockey game.
On the power play, Scott Ferguson (assists to Riley Simpson and Brandon Biro @0:22) hammered a one timer past Leclerc to make it 3-1. Trey Fix-Wolansky (unassisted @3:05) scooped up the loose puck and out raced the Bobcats defensemen and snapped the puck five hole on Leclerc. Shots favored Lloydminster 10-6 in the third but were 32-25 Spruce Grove in the hockey game.
Spruce Grove will take on Brooks for the Gas Drive Cup Final (schedule TBD).
Story by Chris Colwell @Cjcolwell
South Champion crowned while RBC hosts stay alive on Tuesday night.
Spruce Grove Saints @ Lloydminster Bobcats (North Finals game #4 Saints lead 3-0)
Alex Leclerc made 32 saves while Ryan Chynoweth with a hat trick and assist to lead the Bobcats to a 6-1 win over Spruce Grove.
While shorthanded, Scott Ferguson (assist to Tyler Busch @7:55) broke down the left side and snapped the puck over the shoulder of Bobcats (starting) goaltender Alex Leclerc. Alex Pernitsky (assists to Ryan Chynoweth and Eric Benshadle @15:50) cut to the net and out waited Saints (starting) goaltender Ravi Dattani. Shots favored Spruce Grove 13-9 in the opening frame.
Ryan Chynoweth (assists to Alex Pernitsky and Eric Benshadle @3:31) on a two on one would redirect the puck past the pad of Dattani to give the Bobcats the lead 2-1. Taylor Mulder (assists to Zac Giroux and Nick Quillan @4:31) cleaned up a rebound after Lloydminster failed to score on a two on one. Taylor Mulder (assists to Connor Odelein and Zac Giroux @5:27) from the top of the slot would snap the puck over the shoulder of Dattani to make it 4-1. Shots favored the Bobcats 8-7 in the second but were 20-17 Saints in the game.
Ryan Chynoweth (assists to Brett Smythe and Eric Benshadle @10:59) poked the rebound into the back of the net for his second of the night. Ryan Chynoweth (assists to Zac Giroux and Greg Moro @13:08) hammered his hat trick goal past Dattani to make it 6-1. Shots favored the Saints 13-9 in third and 33-26.
Game five will go in Spruce Grove on Friday night.
Brooks Bandits @ Camrose Kodiaks (South Finals Game #4 Bandits lead 3-0)
Cale Makar and Dylan McCrory each had a goal and assist while Garret Hughson made 30 saves as the Bandits swept the Kodiaks 5-1.
On the power play, Joe O'Connor (unassisted @14:00) kept the puck in and fired the shot past Kodiaks (starting) goaltender Patrick Gora. Shots favored the Kodiaks 9-5.
Dylan McCrory (assist to Jeff Malott @9:55) would add to the Brooks lead in the second tapping the puck in on the rebound. Shots favored Camrose 12-10 in the second and 21-15 in the hockey game. The Bandits would keep coming in the third. Jared Cockrell (assist to Landon Welykholowa @3:55) on a goal mouth scramble would knock the puck into the back of the goal. Derek Lodermeier (assists to Dylan McCrory and Cale Makar @6:25) on a two on one would snap the puck over the shoulder of Gora. On the power play, Cale Makar (assist to Nick Prkusic @16:27) shot from the point would find its way through traffic to make it 5-0. Cam Gotaas (assists to Slater Strong and Colin Schmidt @18:01) deflected the puck between the pads of the Bandits (starting) goaltender Garret Hughson. Shots favored the Bandits 20-10 in the third and 35-31 in the hockey game.
Brooks will now wait for the winner of Spruce Grove and Lloydminster.
Story by Chris Colwell @Cjcolwell
Top seeds continued to roll on Monday night taking 3-0 strangle hold leads in their best of sevens.
Spruce Grove Saints @ Lloydminster Bobcats (North Final Saints lead 2-0)
A hat trick from Trey Fix-Wolansky and 29 saves from Matthew Murray leads Saints to 6-2 victory over the Bobcats.
Thanks to a friendly bounce off the end boards Austin O'Rourke (assist to Kris Spriggs @16:22) was able to beat Saints (starting) goaltender Matthew Murray to make it 1-0 Lloydminster. Shots favored the Bobcats 13-10 in the opening frame.
Trey Fix-Wolansky (assists to Jake Mykitiuk and Isaac Farrah @8:28) finished a three on two by tapping the puck behind Bobcats (starting) goaltender Alex Leclerc. Tyler Busch (unassisted @15:25) would drive to the net and backhand the puck five hole on Leclerc. Brandon Biro (assists to Nicolas Correale and Connor James @17:18) at the top of the crease would spin and fire the puck into the net to make it 3-1 Saints. Trey Fix-Wolansky (assist to Ryan Cox @19:52) wired his second of the night over the shoulder of Leclerc. Shots favored Spruce Grove 9-7 in the second but were 20-19 Lloydminster in the hockey game.
Cole Plotnikoff (unassisted @4:14) picked off a Bobcats pass and snapped the puck top shelf. Ryan Chynoweth (assist to Eric Benshadle @7:52) on the rebound would poke the puck into the net. Trey Fix-Wolansky (assist to Jake Mykitiuk @16:39) hammered his hat trick goal into the empty net. Shots favored the Bobcats 11-6 in the third and 31-25 in the hockey game.
Game four will go Tuesday night in Lloydminster.
Brooks Bandits @ Camrose Kodiaks (South Final Bandits lead 2-0)
Tristan Thompson scored twice and added a helper while Garret Hughson made 27 saves as the Bandits hammered the Kodiaks 9-2.
Jeff Malott (assists to Charlie Marchand and Derek Lodermeier @12:29) picked up the loose puck and tapped it behind Kodiaks (starting) goaltender Patrick Gora. Shots favored the Bandits 13-10.
Cale Makar (assists to Dylan McCrory and Derek Lodermeier @3:55) from the slot wristed the puck into the back of the goal to make it 2-0. A mere 36 seconds later Tristan Thompson (assist to Shane Bear @4:31) from the right faceoff circle put a shot short side on Gora. On the power play, Tristan Thompson (assists to Landon Welykholowa and Shane Bear @6:09) would get his second of the night this time from the left faceoff circle. On the power play, Tanner Younghans (assists to Paul Lovsin and Nelson Gadory @7:06) redirected the puck past Bandits (starting) goaltender Garret Hughson. On the power play, Joe O'Connor (assists to Jeff Malott and Josh McKechney @11:07) poked the puck between the pads of Gora. Cole McBride (assists to Paul Lovsin and Mackenzie Bauer @16:31) on a partial breakaway would slip the puck five hole on Hughson. Shots favored Brooks 28-6 in the second and 41-16 in the hockey game.
Tyrell Mappin (assists to Landon Welykolowa and Cale Makar @5:51) one timed the sixth goal of the night for the Bandits. Just 35 seconds later Jared Cockrell (assist to Josh McKechney @6:26) off a turnover would snap the puck top shelf to extend the lead to five. Dylan McCory (assists to Derek Lodermeier and Cale Makar @12:40) on a wrap around backhanded the puck over Gora's shoulder. On the power play, Jesse Pereira (assists to Tristan Thompson and Shane Bear @13:37) tipped the point shot from Thompson just under the crossbar. Shots favored Brooks 14-13 in the third and 55-29 in the game.
Game four will go Tuesday in Camrose.
Story by Chris Colwell @Cjcolwell
Home teams continue to reign supreme as the divisional finals continued Saturday night.
Lloydminster Bobcats @ Spruce Grove Saints (North Final Game #2 Saints lead 1-0)
Tyler Busch and Nicolas Correale scored twice while Ravi Dattani made 26 saves as the Saints drilled the Bobcats 6-2.
Nicolas Correale (assists to Brandon Biro and Trey Fix-Wolansky @9:09) from the top of the slot wired a shot over the shoulder of Bobcats (starting) goaltender Alex Leclerc. Shots favored the Saints 11-9.
Early in the second Lloydminster would tie the game. Greg Moro (assist to Stefan Wood @0:23) point shot would squeak through Saints (starting) goaltender Ravi Dattani. Spruce Grove would get the lead back shortly after that. Austin Hunter (assists to Conner Lukan and Scott Ferguson @4:25) found the loose puck at the top of the crease and would sweep the puck into the cage. The Saints would then pot a pair of power play goals. On a goal mouth scramble Nicolas Correale (assist to Trey Fix-Wolansky @8:53) would poke the puck behind the Lloydminster goaltender. Tyler Busch (assist to Brandon Biro @15:45) hammered a one timer short side on Leclerc to make it 4-1. Shots favored Spruce Grove 21-7 in the second and 32-16 in the hockey game.
The Saints would open the third with two more power play goals. Tyler Busch (assist to Riley Simpson@7:40) on another scramble would poke the puck into the net. That would be the end of the night for Leclerc, who would give up five goals on 34 shots. On a 5 on 3 Jake Mykitiuk (assists to Austin Hunter and Cole Nicholson @10:08) would get a tap in goal at the side of the net. Kris Spriggs (assists to Austin O'Rourke and Noah Bauld @15:20) standing in the slot put the puck over Dattani to make it 6-2. Shots favored Lloydminster 12-9 in the third but were 41-28 Spruce Grove overall.
Game three will be in Lloydminster on Monday night.
Camrose Kodiaks @ Brooks Bandits (South Final Game #2 Bandits lead 1-0)
Derek Lodermeier and Jeff Malott each had a goal and a helper while Garret Hughson stopped all 16 shots to lead the Bandits to a 4-0 victory over Camrose.
Jeff Malott (assists to Derek Lodermeier and Tristan Thompson @9:53) picked up the rebound and would tap the puck behind Kodiaks (starting) goaltender Patrick Gora. On the power play, Dylan McCrory (assists to Tyrell Mappin and Shane Bear @16:20) slammed the puck into the open side of the goal to make it 2-0. Shots favored Brooks 12-6.
Neither team was able to find the back of the net in the second. Shots favored the Bandits 12-7 in the second and 24-13 in the hockey game.
Brooks would get a pair of special team goals in the third. Shorthanded Derek Lodermeier (assist to Jeff Malott @7:47) would beat Gora to give the Bandits a three goal cushion. On the power play, Nick Prkusic (assist to Logan Mick @19:47) would poke the loose puck short side on Gora to make it 4-0. Shots favored Brooks 22-3 in the third and 46-16 in the hockey game.
Game three will go in Camrose on Monday night.
Story by Chris Colwell
@Cjcolwell
Day one of the Divisional Finals went according to plan for the home teams.
Lloydminster Bobcats @ Spruce Grove Saints (North Finals Game #1)
Brandon Biro scored twice while Matthew Murray made 33 saves as Spruce Grove doubled up Lloydminster 6-3.
It would take the Saints just over a minute to open the scoring. Austin Hunter (assists to Scott Ferguson and Conner Lukan @1:08) on a goal mouth scramble put the puck over Bobcats (starting) goaltender Alex Leclerc. A mere 11 seconds after that Lloydminster would tie the game. Nick Quillan (assist to Kevin Darrar @1:19) picked up the puck at the right faceoff circle and would snap the puck five hole on Saints (starting) goaltender Matthew Murray. Conner Lukan (assist to Macklin Pichonsky @6:49) drove to the net and backhanded the puck short side on Leclerc. Shots favored the Bobcats 20-17 in the opening frame.
The second period started with another early goal from Spruce Grove. Brandon Biro (assists to Trey FixWolansky and Jake Mykitiuk @1:29) point shot would just squeeze through Leclerc to extend the Saints lead to 3-1. Jake Mykitiuk (assists to Trey Fix-Wolansky and Connor James @7:56) put the puck top shelf to make it 4-1 Spruce Grove. Christian Lloyd (unassisted @12:21) found the loose puck from the top of the left faceoff circle and drove the puck top shelf. Shots favored the Saints 14-7 in the second and 3127 in the hockey game.
Once again Spruce Grove would get an early goal to start the third. Brandon Biro (assists to Connor James and Riley Simpson @0:39) on a breakaway would snap his second of the night going top shelf. Brett Smythe (assist to Kris Spriggs @10:01) would take advantage of a give away by Matthew Murray to cut the deficit to 5-3. Riley Simpson (unassisted @19:01) from his end would put the puck into the empty net. Shots favored Lloydminster 9-5 in the third, the shots would finish even 36-36.
Game two goes Saturday night in Spruce Grove.
Camrose Kodiaks @ Brooks Bandits (South Finals Game #1)
Joe O'Connor had a goal and an assist while Garret Hughson made 28 saves as Brooks topped Camrose 4-1.
After Joe O'Connor had been stopped, Logan Mick (assists to Joe O'Connor and Landon Welykholowa @17:35) chipped the rebound over the pad of Kodiaks (starting) goaltender Patrick Gora. Shots favored Brooks 17-5.
Nick Prkusic (unassisted @15:34) would drive out from the corner and shovel the puck behind Gora to make it 2-0. Dylan McCrory (assists to Tristan Thompson and Derek Lodermeier @18:07) would circle from the left faceoff circle to the right and snap the puck five hole on Gora. Shots favored the Bandits 18-11 in the second and 35-16 in the hockey game.
Ryan Rebelato (assists to Cole McBride and Trevor Costello @3:30) from the top of the slot would snap the puck over the glove of Bandits (starting) goaltender Garret Hughson. On the power play, Joe O'Connor (assists to Derek Lodermeier and Josh McKechney @11:24) ripped a point shot low on Gora. Shots were even in the third 13-13 but favored Brooks 48-29 in the hockey game.
Game two goes Saturday in Brooks.
Story by Chris Colwell @Cjcolwell