The Borderland Thunder’s depth on offence proved to be the fatal injection that put the Dryden Ice Dogs to sleep for the season.
Matt Johnson scored two second-period goals, and Drew Fisher tallied the game-winner, as the Thunder knocked off the defending SIJHL champs with a 5-2 win there Saturday night to sweep their best-of-seven semi-final series.
The Thunder now await the winner of the other semi-finals series between the Thunder Bay KC Bulldogs and Fort William First Nation Wolves, which the Bulldogs lead 3-1.
Kyle Prystupa and Jay Phillips also tallied for Borderland, who got their 19 goals in the series from 13 different players as they exacted revenge for the Ice Dogs sweeping them in last year’s SIJHL final.
Tyler McDonald and Tyler Desjarlais replied for the Ice Dogs, who were unable to overcome several key injuries to their line-up and had difficulty solving Thunder goalie Dan Hoehne (4-0, 2.00 goals against average) the entire series.
In Game 3 on Friday night, the visiting Thunder had jumped out to a 4-1 lead after two periods, then had hung on for a 4-3 victory.
Josh McAndrew, Chad Baldwin, Kevin Webb, and Johnson scored for the Thunder in that one while Kendal Enns (two) and Desjarlais replied for the Ice Dogs.
In the other semi-final series, playoff scoring leader Brian Dzijak exploded for four goals in a 6-3 victory by the visiting Bulldogs in Game 3 on Friday night, then SIJHL regular-season scoring champ Trevor Karasiewicz netted the winner at 4:54 of the second overtime to pull out a 5-4 win in Game 4 on Saturday night.
Game 5 is back in the Bulldogs’ familiar confines of the Fort William Gardens on Wednesday night. Game 6, if necessary, will take place Thursday night at the Fort William First Nation Arena.
If a Game 7 is needed, it’s slated for Saturday night back at the Gardens.
Games 1 and 2 of the SIJHL final will be held here April 1 and 2 at 7:30 p.m.
Fort Frances Times
Local News from Across the Rainy River District
