Double Overtime Settles Game One
FORT FRANCES – SPORTS – Miles Nolan’s league-leading 10th goal of the playoffs, 10:37 into the second overtime, was the difference as the Fort Frances Lakers edged the Minnesota Iron Rangers 1-0 in a hard-fought, tight-checking game 1 of the Bill Salonen Cup Superior International Junior Hockey League final Friday evening at Ice for Kids Arena.
Game 2 goes Saturday back in Fort Frances at 7:30PM.
The goaltender’s in this one stole the show for the majority of the contest as Devin Tappenden of Fort Frances and Alex Reichle of Minnesota were both spectacular combining to stop 84 of 85 shots fired their way.
Each side had quality chances through 60 minutes of regulation time only to be stymied by the netminders.
After the score remained 0-0 through the first OT the Lakers would eventually win it midway through the second extra session as Nolan stuffed in the winner from the left of Reichle as bodies jammed the front of the net to end the grueling defensive battle.
Tappenden made 39 saves to record his second shutout of the postseason while lowering his SIJHL-leading playoff goals-against average to 1.58 while increasing his league-best save percentage to .937.
Reichle was equally spectacular for the Iron Rangers in the hard-luck defeat finishing the night with 45 saves on 46 attempts.
The SIJHL winner will advance to the Dudley-Hewitt Cup April 29 through May 3 in Wellington, Ont., vs. the champions of the Northern Ontario and Ontario Junior Hockey Leagues along with the host Wellington Dukes for a berth to RBC Cup Canadian Jr. A championship May 10-18 in Vernon, B.C.
Series F
SIJHL finals for the Bill Salonen Cup
No. 1 Fort Frances Lakers vs. No. 3 Minnesota Iron Rangers
Lakers lead best-of-seven series 1-0 Game 1: Fort Frances 1 Minnesota 0 (2 OT)
Game 2: Saturday, April 12 @ Fort Frances 7:30 p.m. (Ice for Kids)
Game 3: Wednesday, April 16 @ Minnesota 7 p.m. (Hoyt Lakes)
Game 4: Thursday, April 17 @ Minnesota 7 p.m. (Hoyt Lakes)
Game 5*: Saturday, April 19 @ Fort Frances 7:30 p.m. (Ice for Kids)
Game 6*: Monday, April 21 @ Minnesota 7 p.m. (Hoyt Lakes)
Game 7*: Wednesday, April 23 @ Fort Frances 7:30 p.m. (Ice for Kids)
*-if necessary
