Round 2 Recap

After some exciting Divisional Semi-finals, the top 2 teams from each division emerged to square off in the North & South Division Finals, with the winners meeting in the KJHL Championship series.

The South Division matchup saw long-time rivals North Winnipeg Satelites matchup against the Selkirk Fishermen.  The series started in Selkirk, and the home team jumped out to a 1-0 series lead with a 4-3 win.  Game 2 moved to Winnipeg, where it was the Satelites turn to record a 4-3 win & tie the series at 1-1.  The teams met back in Selkirk in game 3, and this one saw the Fish pull off a 2-0 win, and hold a 2-1 advantage in the series.  Game 4 was back in Winnipeg, and the home side Satelites battled to a 4-2 win, to again even the series at 2-2.  Back in Selkirk for game 5, the Fishermen seized home ice and held on for a 3-1 win, and a 3-2 series lead.

After 5 games, the home team had won each time, and with the series heading back to Winnipeg, the Satelites were looking to continue this trend.

Game 6 was a see-saw battle, and at the end of regulation, the game was tied (no surprise!) 3-3.  One period of overtime solved nothing, but in the second overtime frame, the Selkirk Fishermen broke the series trend and scored the clinching goal.

After a long, hard fought series, the Selkirk Fishermen won the series 4-2 and are South Division Champions.

In the North Division, the Arborg Ice Dawgs matched up with the defending champion Peguis Juniors.  Game 1 of the series was in Fisher River, but it was the Ice Dawgs who drew first blood in the series, winning 6-4 & taking a 1-0 lead.  Game 2 moved to Arborg, where extra time was needed, but the Peguis Juniors were victorious by an 8-7 score in overtime, and tied the series 1-1.  Back in Fisher River, the Juniors built a lead that Arborg just couldn’t come back from, and won game 3 by a 7-4 score, and now held a 2-1 series lead.  Game 4 reverted to Arborg, where the Ice Dawgs took advantage of a some bounces and more overtime and won the game 6-5 on home ice, evening the series at 2-2.  Game was 5 moved back to Fisher River, where the Juniors took advantage of home ice & cruised to an 8-1 win, with the outcome never in doubt.  This gave the Juniors a 3-2 series lead, and the chance to close out in game 6.

Game 6 was in Arborg, and for the 3rd time in 6 games, this was another close affair & regulation settled nothing.  Less than a minute into the extra frame, Arborg jumped on an opportunity and buried the game winner to take the game 4-3 & force a 7the & deciding game back in Fisher River.

With the series on the line in Game 7, the Arborg Ice Dawgs looked to go into unfriendly waters and come away with the win, while the Peguis Juniors were looking to punch their ticket to a second straight league final.  This game was all Arborg, as they got some solid goaltending & timely scoring, and went on to win 3-0, shutting out the high-powered Juniors offence.

Both Divisional Finals were epic back & forth series, that saw the KJHL’s top 4 regular season teams battle it out for the opportunity to play for the KJHL Championship & the right to represent Manitoba at the Keystone Cup.  All four teams should be proud of their season & their efforts in getting to this point.

Follow the KJHL Championship series as the South Division Champion Selkirk Fishermen faceoff against the North Division Champion Arborg Ice Dawgs.

KJHL Championship schedule:

Saturday, Mar. 29 – Selkirk Rec Center - 7:30pm

Tuesday Apr. 1 – Arborg - 8:00pm

Thursday April 3 – Selkirk Rec Center - 7:30pm

Saturday, April 5 – Arborg – 7:30pm

Sunday, April 6 - Selkirk Rec Center - 7:30pm (if necessary)

Tuesday  April 8 – Arborg – 8:00pm (if necessary)

Friday April 11 – Selkirk Rec Center - 7:30pm (if necessary)