The Six Nations Chiefs completed a Mann Cup three-peat with a 12-7 win over the New Westminster Salmonbellies on Saturday night in Game 7.
Credit still goes to New Westminster. While many didn’t give them a chance in this series, they pushed Six Nations’ all-star lineup to the brink and gave them everything they could handle.
Big players show up in big moments, so it was only fitting that Dhane Smith (two goals, five assists) and Lyle Thompson (three goals, three assists) led the way for Six Nations.
The Chiefs stuck with Doug Jamieson in goal, and he stopped 36 of 43 shots en route to the Mann Cup win.
For New Westminster, Frank Scigliano had a sensational series in goal. Unfortunately, it didn’t end the way he would have liked, as he stopped 37 of 48 shots in the loss.
Six Nations Opens Up a Big Lead
The Chiefs jumped out to a four-goal lead after the first period.
Lyle Thompson opened the scoring 1:39 into the game, but Noah Armitage tied it up at 3:37.
Six Nations then closed the period on a four-goal run. Ryan Smith scored at 5:22 to regain the lead. Dhane Smith found his Buffalo Bandits teammate Ian MacKay at 7:11 to make it 3-1. Ryan Smith added his second of the period at 9:24, and Thompson rounded out the scoring with 4:35 left as Six Nations led 5-1 after 20 minutes.
Salmonbellies Push Back
The Salmonbellies weren’t going away easily, as they managed to narrow the deficit to one goal.
Haiden Dickson struck at 3:14 off a feed from Armitage, but Six Nations replied at 5:49 when Kason Tarbell scored from a Thompson pass.
New Westminster then closed the second with three unanswered goals. Tye Kurtz started the run at 6:26, Marcus Klarich scored unassisted at 10:02, and Ryan Martel beat Jamieson at 15:19 to make it 6-5 heading into the third.
Chiefs Hold On to Win Mann Cup
Mitch Jones scored early in the third to tie the game 6-6, but it was all Six Nations after that.
Dhane Smith restored the lead just 29 seconds later to spark a five-goal run. MacKay extended the lead at 6:09, Thompson completed his hat trick at 7:14, Brendan Bomberry scored unassisted at 9:28, and Tyson Bell added a transition marker with 3:14 left to make it 11-6.
With an extra attacker on the floor, Armitage scored for New Westminster off a Tyler Pace feed at 17:24.
Smith sealed the win with an unassisted empty-netter at 19:11 to make it 12-7 and cement Six Nations’ Mann Cup victory.
Top Scorers
Six Nations Chiefs
- Dhane Smith, 2g 5a
- Lyle Thompson, 3g 3a
- Ian MacKay, 2g 2a
- Shayne Jackson, 4a
New Westminster Salmonbellies
- Noah Armitage, 2g 2a
- Mitch Jones, 1g 2a
- Tye Kurtz, 1g 2a
- Tyler Pace, 3a
Players of the Game
- Marcus Klarich, New Westminster Salmonbellies
- Lyle Thompson, Six Nations Chiefs
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