Flint becomes first team to punch ticket to 3HL Championship
The Flint Jr. Generals became the first team to punch their ticket to the 3HL Championship Tournament next weekend in Chicago, as they swept the Cleveland Jr. Lumberjacks to win the East Division playoff crown. However, all three of the other series will go to a third and decisive game on Sunday, as Toledo, St. Louis and North Iowa all won their Game 2’s to push the divisional finals to the brink. Here is a look at Saturday’s action:
Cleveland 3 @ Flint 5 (Flint wins series, 2-0) – Cody Damon and Andy Lay each recorded a goal and two assists as Flint completed a series sweep of Cleveland. Ben Myers picked up the win, making 27 saves while Lawrence Dvorak Jr. posted the loss for the Jacks, making 33 saves. Flint led 2-0 on goals from Ken Miloser and Derek Compeau. Cleveland came back with goals from Louis Sawchik, Kyle Fink and Zach Seither, but Flint answered with goals from William Kocher, Lay and Damon to put the game out of reach and reach the 3HL Championship. Flint held the 3HL’s leading scorer Cameron Dimmitt to just one assist in the series. Boxscore
Peoria 2 @ St. Louis 3 (OT) (Series tied, 1-1) – Despite 55 saves from Michael Parda, Peoria fell in overtime to the Jr. Blues as Ryan Basqall scored on the power play with less than four minutes remaining in the extra period to force a decisive Game 3 in the series. Daniel Rosse scored first for the Jr. Blues, but that was answered by a goal from Peoria’s Nathan Chasteen. Alexander Turin gave the Mustangs a 2-1 lead in the 2nd period, which held until the middle of the 3rd period when St. Louis defenseman Paul O’Connor tied the game. With Turin in the box for tripping in OT, Basqall scored the game-winner setting up a winner-take-all Game 3 on Sunday in St. Louis. Boxscore
Queen City 1 @ Toledo 5 (Series tied, 1-1) – Toledo outshot the Steam 52-20 on their way to a convincing Game 2 win, 5-1. Toledo led early on goals from Ryan Kelly and Christos Papaioannou. Mike Baker made it 3-0 in the 2nd period with a power play goal. Queen City scored their lone goal of the night early in the 3rd period to make it 3-1, but another goal from Kelly and another from Papaioannou put the game away for the Cherokee and set up a third and decisive Game 3 in Toledo on Sunday with a trip to the 3HL Championship on the line. Austyn Roudebush made 19 saves in the win, while Joey Rebedew made 47 saves in the loss. Boxscore
View the 3HL playoff bracket and schedule here
Watch the games on FASTHockey here
