UPDATED – GAME 3: Fort St. John Flyers’ five-year run as provincial AAA senior champions has come to an end. Powell River Regals reclaimed the title they last held in 2006 with a 3-1 victory in game three of the 2012 BC Savage Cup final.
Scott Kirton netted the eventual game winner with seven minutes to play and Chris Tarr scored into an empty net with less than a minute remaining to seal a three-game sweep in the best-of-five series.
Andy Welsh scored his second of the series midway through the first period to give the home team a 1-0 that held up well into the third period. Tod Alexander put the Flyers on the scoreboard a minute after Kirton’s goal gave the Regals a 2-0 lead but Justin Mulholland shut the door the rest of the way, ending the night with 32 saves and his second win of the series.
Regals now await the winner of the Alberta final between Stony Plain Eagles and Horse Lake Thunder. Stony Plain leads the best-of-seven series 3-2 with game six scheduled for Horse Lake on Sunday, March 25.
Rosetown Red Wings forced a fifth and deciding game in the Saskatchewan final with a 3-2 win over the Balgonie Bisons earlier tonight. Game five takes place in Rosetown on March 29.
Dundas Real McCoys recorded a 4-3 win in Whitby tonight to take a 2-1 lead in the Ontario semi-final over the Dunlops. The series shifts back to Dundas for game four on Monday, March 26. Kenora Thistles await the winner to play for the Ontario title and a berth in Allan Cup 2012.
GAME TWO: John Coyle earned first star honours with two goals, including a highlight reel game-winner, while second star Scott Kirton added three assists for the Powell River Regals in a 5-2 win over Fort St. John Flyers in game two of the BC Savage Cup final at Hap Parker arena in Powell River Friday night. Brad Priestlay, Jeff Lynch and third star Elias Godoy each scored once and goaltender David Brumby turned away 27 of the 29 shots he faced in the Regals’ net.
For the second straight game, Fort St. John opened the scoring. Matthew Alexander gave the 2010 Allan Cup champions their only lead of the game 12 seconds into the second period but the hometown Regals roared back to take control of the game with three goals before the period came to an end. After Coyle’s second of the game gave the Regals a 4-1 third period lead, Luke Middleton scored his second goal in as many games for the Flyers before Lynch’s blast put the game away with just under four minutes remaining. In his first game of the series, Clayton Pool took the loss in goal for the Flyers.
Game three is a 7:30pm start on Saturday night.
In Alberta tonight, Horse Lake Thunder staved off elimination with a 4-1 at Stony Plain. Game six of the provincial final is scheduled for Sunday night in Horse Lake with Stony Plain up three games to two in the best of seven series. The winner will face Powell River or Fort St. John for the Mackenzie Cup and the Pacific region berth in Allan Cup 2012.
The only other senior AAA playoff action in Canada tonight took place in Dundas, Ontario, where the visiting Whitby Dunlops downed the Real McCoys to even their provincial semi-final series at a game apiece. Game six is Saturday night in Whitby.
GAME ONE: Andy Welsh scored once and added an assist to lead the Powell River Regals to a 4-2 victory over five-time defending champion Fort St. John Flyers in game one of the BC Savage Cup final at Hap Parker arena in Powell River. Rick McLaren, Scott Kirton and Chris Tarr also scored for the home team while goaltender Justin Mulholland turned away 21 shots en route to a one game lead in the best-of-five series.
Ian Munro opened the scoring for the Flyers, giving the visitors a 1-0 lead after 20 minutes. After three unanswered second period goals by the Regals, Flyers defenseman Luke Middleton scored to make it a one-goal game five minutes into the third but Tarr’s shorthanded, unassisted marker midway through the final period put the game out of reach.
Game two is slated for 7:30pm, Friday, March 23 at Hap Parker Arena.
In other senior AAA playoff action across Canada, South East Prairie Thunder booked their ticket to Allan Cup 2012 with a 6-3 win over Manitoba Lightning. South East took the best-of-seven Manitoba provincial championship in four straight games to join Lloydminster, Saskatchewan (host), and Grand Falls, Newfoundland (Atlantic) in the six-team national championship scheduled to run from April 16-21.
Elsewhere, Balgonie Bisons jumped out to a 2-1 series lead in the best-of-five Saskatchewan final with a 4-1 win over the Rosetown Red Wings. The series continues with game four on Saturday, March 24 and game five, if necessary, on Thursday, March 29. The winner qualifies for Allan Cup 2012.
