Flames, Irishmen continue senior hockey series with weekend games
Game 4 of the championship series is slated for 7:30 p.m. Friday at the qplex in Quispamsis
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The third year of the Southern Senior Hockey League in New Brunswick is stickhandling toward the crowning of another league champion, with the possibility a trophy could be held aloft as early as this weekend.
Currently, Game Time Irishmen of St. Stephen, who won the regular season title, hold a 2-1 series lead over the regular-season runners up Saint John Flames entering the fourth game on Friday at the qplex in Quispamsis.
The opening faceoff is slated for 7:30 p.m.
Game 5 is back at the Garcelon Civic Centre on Saturday at 7:30 pm.
Tickets range between $5-$10 per person.
In the opener, Riley Craft, the league-leading pointgetter during the regular season, scored just past the 10-minute mark of the first overtime period to give Saint John a 4-3 victory.
The Flames carried a 3-1 lead entering the third period but a pair of goals by Brandon Parsons and Chris Jackson sent the game to the extra frame.
In Game 2, the teams both buckled down in a game dominated by goaltending excellence. Jon Waye blocked 47 shots for the Irishmen in an strong effort for the win while Alex Bishop made 35 saves in a strong effort as well.
Game Time’s Rob Vanwynsberghe earned the hero’s cape with the winning goal with just 1:18 remaining in regulation time.
In Game 3 last Saturday in St. Stephen, Parsons scored twice for the Irishmen, including one during a three-goal third with teammates Jacob Willard and Daniel Cunnigham to break the game open.
It finished 5-1 to set the stage for this weekend’s dates.
The Irishmen, the inaugural champions in 2022, were 14-2 in the loop that expanded to five teams this year with the addition of Tri-County and Grand Lake franchises.
Saint John went 11-5 while the River Valley Rock, who won the title in 2023, were 8-7, Tri County 8-7 and Grand Lake 0-16.
In the playoffs, Tri Country swept Grand Lake in a best-of-three play-in series.
In the semifinal round, Game Time swept Tri County 3-0 and the Flames edged the Rock 3-1 to set the stage for the best-of-seven final series.
Craft won the scoring title with 38 points (18 goals, 20 assists in 14 games) while Zachory Alchorn of River Valley, Matthew Bursey of Saint John and Irishmen teammates Michael Thomas and Vanwynsberghe all knotted for second place with 35 points.
Waye’s eight wins were a league high (8-2-0) as was his .935 save percentage. Bishop posted a league low among regulars with a 2.33 goals against average.
If a sixth game is required, it will take place April 18 at a time and location to be determined while the seventh and deciding contest is slated for April 20 in St. Stephen.
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