The 2025 Mann Cup is headed to a Game 7 after the Six Nations Chiefs earned a 10-6 win over the New Westminster Salmonbellies on Friday night.
The victory ties the series 3-3, setting up a winner-take-all showdown Saturday at a sold-out Queen’s Park Arena in New Westminster.
Injuries are mounting for both sides. Six Nations was already without Josh Byrne and also missed Randy Staats, who was seen in a walking boot. For New Westminster, Will Malcom appeared to be hobbled midway through the second period and required attention from trainers in the tunnel.
Friday’s contest stayed tight until Six Nations strung together a six-goal run between the first and second periods.
Doug Jamieson started in goal for the Chiefs, stopping 30 of 34 shots. At the other end, Frank Scigliano turned aside 37 of 45 for New Westminster in the loss.
Six Nations Takes Slight Edge in the First
Defence ruled early, with the first goal not coming until 6:59 when Ian MacKay gave the Chiefs the lead.
New Westminster replied with a pair. Haiden Dickson tied it on the power play at 9:28, and Tye Kurtz scored off a Mitch Jones feed at 12:18 to put the Salmonbellies ahead 2-1.
Six Nations answered quickly, beginning a six-goal surge. Ryan Smith tied it with 4:47 left in the frame, and Shayne Jackson scored less than a minute later to send the Chiefs into the intermission up 3-2.
Chiefs Break It Open
The Chiefs stayed hot to start the second, adding four more unanswered goals.
Lyle Thompson scored at 2:38, and Smith added a power-play marker at 5:08 to stretch the lead to 5-2.
Cody Jamieson made it 6-2 at 6:59, before Latrell Harris set up Nonkon Thompson at 11:51 to cap the run.
Dickson responded for New Westminster with a power-play tally at 14:13, cutting the deficit to 7-3. He added another with 43 seconds left in the period, trimming the Chiefs’ lead to 7-4 heading into the third.
Six Nations Holds On To Force Game 7
The third period turned chaotic, but Six Nations managed to keep control.
Jackson opened the scoring at 4:52 with an extra attacker on the floor. Kurtz answered with 5:56 remaining, scoring with the goalie pulled to make it 8-5.
The Chiefs regained their cushion with 1:26 left, as Tyson Bell struck unassisted into an empty net.
Kurtz replied with his third of the night 33 seconds later, again with the net empty, but MacKay sealed it for Six Nations with 28 seconds on the clock, scoring into an empty cage to secure the 10-6 win and force Game 7.
Top Scorers
Six Nations Chiefs
- Dhane Smith, 4a
- Ian MacKay, 2g 2a
- Lyle Thompson, 1g 2a
- Ryan Smith, 2g 1a
- Shayne Jackson, 2g 1a
New Westminster Salmonbellies
- Tye Kurtz, 3g 1a
- Haiden Dickson, 3g
- Mitch Jones, 3a
Players of the Game
- Haiden Dickson, New Westminster Salmonbellies
- Shayne Jackson, Six Nations Chiefs
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