The New Westminster Salmonbellies are one win away from their first Mann Cup championship since 1991 after a 15-11 victory over the Six Nations Chiefs in Game 5 on Wednesday night.
The Salmonbellies now hold a 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven series on home floor at Queen’s Park Arena. They can clinch the title on Friday, while the Chiefs will look to force a Game 7.
Six Nations suffered a setback before the game even began, as Josh Byrne was ruled out of the lineup and was seen wearing a knee brace.
New Westminster led 4-3 after the first period, then strung together an eight-goal run between the second and third periods that proved to be the difference. Six Nations responded with six straight late in the third but ran out of time in their comeback bid.
Frank Scigliano had a bounce-back game in goal for New Westminster, stopping 43 of 54 shots, including key saves in the dying minutes.
It was a tough outing for the Chiefs’ goaltenders. Doug Jamieson allowed nine goals on 41 shots in 47:55 of work before being pulled. Warren Hill came on in relief, giving up five goals on 12 shots.
Salmonbellies Set the Tone
Looking to recover from back-to-back losses, New Westminster struck first. Ryan Martel took an outlet pass from Scigliano and scored in transition at 6:21.
Six Nations replied with a transition marker of their own, as Graeme Hossack finished a feed from Brendan Bomberry at 7:50.
Will Malcom restored the lead at 8:21 with a low sidearm shot around a defender. Tye Kurtz added another at 9:29 to make it 3-1 Salmonbellies.
Ian MacKay answered with a long outside shot at 11:28, and on the power play Shayne Jackson dove from behind the net to tie the game 3-3 at 16:31.
New Westminster closed the frame with a momentum-shifting goal. Tyler Pace grabbed a rebound off the end boards and scored on the power play with one second left to make it 4-3.
New Westminster Dominates the Second
Randy Staats opened the period with a highlight-reel goal at 2:29, but it would be Six Nations’ last for the next 18 minutes.
The Salmonbellies responded with an eight-goal barrage, using speed and transition to take control. Jeff Cornwall scored at 2:45, then added another in transition at 5:17 to make it 6-4.
Klarich, a Mann Cup pickup, dove across the crease off a feed from Martel at 8:05. Malcom followed at 10:01 with a gritty finish under pressure.
Martel scored at 13:33, Kurtz added another 25 seconds later, and Mitch Jones capped the run with a power-play goal at 17:03. The Salmonbellies carried an 11-4 lead into the third.
Six Nations’ Comeback Falls Short
Tyler Pace extended the run 58 seconds into the third, giving New Westminster its eighth straight goal.
On the ensuing faceoff, Tim Edwards won the draw, went down the floor, and beat Scigliano to finally stop the bleeding for the Chiefs.
Ryan Sheridan scored at 1:29, but Kurtz struck again at 8:46 to give the Salmonbellies 14 goals — their most in a Mann Cup game in more than a decade.
Six Nations pushed back hard. Jackson scored at 10:57, MacKay followed 53 seconds later, then struck again at 12:56. Theede added one at 13:27, cutting the deficit to 14-9.
Theede scored again at 15:57, and Ryan Smith converted off a pass from Staats at 16:21 to suddenly make it 14-11.
But Scigliano stood tall with key saves in the closing minutes, and Brandon Goodwin sealed it with an empty-netter at 19:01 to secure the 15-11 win.
Top Scorers
New Westminster Salmonbellies
- Will Malcom, 2g 5a
- Tye Kurtz, 3g 3a
- Ryan Martel, 2g 2a
- Tyler Pace, 2g 2a
- Mitch Jones, 1g 3a
Six Nations Chiefs
- Randy Staats, 1g 4a
- Cody Jamieson, 3a
- Ian MacKay, 3g
- Shayne Jackson, 2g 1a
Players of the Game
- Tye Kurtz, New Westminster Salmonbellies
- Ian MacKay, Six Nations Chiefs
Don’t forget to check us out every Sunday night at 8pm (ET)
