Staff
It’s a matter of perspective–either the clock struck midnight for the English River Miners or the Dryden GM Ice Dogs just picked up the clock and smashed it over their opponent’s collective heads.
The best team in the SIJHL by far proved its regular season was no fluke as the Ice Dogs captured the Bill Salonen Cup with a four-game sweep of English River in the best-of-seven final last week–outscoring the Miners 23-8.
Dryden won its first league title since 2008 and now will head to Trenton for the Dudley Hewitt Cup Central Canadian Jr. ‘A’ Championship beginning Tuesday and running through May 6.
The Ice Dogs opened with home wins over first-time finalist English River 5-2 and 3-1.
Then the domination continued when the series shifted to Red Lake, with Dryden rolling to an 8-2 victory in Game 3 and then a 7-3 decision in the clincher on Thursday.
Braeden Allkins, who led the post-season scoring parade with 15 points in eight games, was named playoff MVP to go along with the league MVP award he had won previously.
The rest of the Dudley Hewitt field was confirmed Friday after Fort Frances native Brett Hahkala and the Powassan Voodoos completed a four-game sweep of the Blind River Beavers to capture the NOJHL Copeland Cup-McNamara Trophy for the first time in franchise history.
The Voodoos went 12-0 record in the NOJHL playoffs, with Hahkala getting eight points in the 10 post-season games he played.
Joining Dryden and Powassan will be the Georgetown Raiders and the Trenton Golden Hawks, who currently are battling for the OJHL Buckland Trophy.
But with Trenton having the automatic berth as host, Georgetown is assured a spot in the field by reaching the OJHL final.
The two teams are tied 3-3 in their best-of-seven series, with Game 7 set for tonight in Georgetown.
Whomever claims the Dudley Hewitt title then will advance to the RBC Cup from May 13-21 in Cobourg.
Former Lakers’ defenceman Nick Minerva is guaranteed a shot at the national crown after being traded from the BCHL’s Surrey Eagles to the RBC Cup host Cobourg Cougars (OJHL) at the trade deadline.
The 21-year-old had 25 points in 40 games with Surrey, then put up 10 points in 15 games with Cobourg.
He’s added nine points in 11 playoff contests.
