New Westminster Salmonbellies goaltender Frank Scigliano once again kept the potent Six Nations Chiefs’ offence in check, holding them to single digits for the second straight game in a 10-6 Game 2 victory at the Mann Cup on Saturday night at Queen’s Park Arena in New Westminster.
Through the first two games of the series, Scigliano has stopped 99 of 113 shots for a save percentage of 87.6. He was named New Westminster’s Player of the Game for his performance in Game 2.
The Chiefs opened the scoring, but it was the only lead they would hold on the night. The bigger question now looms: can Six Nations battle back, or is this young, athletic Salmonbellies team simply too much for the veteran Chiefs?
Unlike Game 1, when Mitch Jones led the way, it was Tye Kurtz who starred for the Salmonbellies in Game 2, recording two goals and seven points. Will Malcom also had a strong night with a goal and five assists.
For Six Nations, Josh Byrne paced the offence with two goals and an assist, while Ryan Smith added a goal and two assists. New Westminster’s defence held Dhane Smith to just two assists, and Lyle Thompson scored his first goal of the 2025 Mann Cup.
The Chiefs went with Warren Hill in goal, and he made 30 saves on 39 shots in the loss.
Six Nations Keeps It Close in the First
The Chiefs opened the scoring 1:57 into the game when Byrne, a New Westminster native, scored on a crease dive.
Kurtz tied it just over a minute later, and Jones followed with his fifth goal of the series on the power play at 9:23.
Kurtz struck again at 12:07 with a sidearm shot while taking a heavy cross-check from Tyson Bell to make it 3-1.
The Chiefs killed off the ensuing penalty, but later took a too many men call. Even shorthanded, Byrne scored off a feed from Ryan Smith with 3:35 left, cutting the deficit to 3-2 after the first period.
Salmonbellies Start to Pull Away
Haiden Dickson opened the second-period scoring just 46 seconds in, using a pick from Jones to beat Hill.
Marcus Klarich extended the lead at 6:29, but Thompson responded with a highlight-reel goal, using a swim move to beat one defender and faking out another to narrow the score to 5-3.
In transition, Dawson Theede scored while falling into the crease at 9:06, bringing the Chiefs within one.
But Dickson struck again with just two seconds left in the period, finding himself alone in front to restore a two-goal cushion at 6-4 heading into the third.
Salmonbellies Take Two-Game Series Lead
Another Mann Cup pickup for New Westminster got on the board early in the third, as Ryan Sheridan scored at 1:16 to put the Salmonbellies up 7-4.
Shayne Jackson answered with a high-to-low shot at 4:44, but Malcom replied at 6:59 with a slick stop-and-go move to beat his defender.
Sheridan added his second of the period at 10:48 to extend the lead to 9-5.
Ryan Smith gave the Chiefs some late hope, burying a pass from Dhane Smith with 6:28 left to make it 9-6.
But Jeff Cornwall sealed the win with an empty-netter at 18:29, sending the Salmon on the floor (literally) in celebration of a 10-6 victory.
New Westminster is now two wins away from its first Mann Cup since 1991.
Top Scorers
New Westminster Salmonbellies
- Tye Kurtz – 2G, 5A
- Will Malcom – 1G, 5A
- Haiden Dickson – 2G, 2A
Six Nations Chiefs
- Ryan Smith – 1G, 2A
- Josh Byrne – 2G, 1A
- Dhane Smith – 2A
- Dawson Theede – 1G, 1A
Players of the Game
- Frank Scigliano – New Westminster Salmonbellies
- Josh Byrne – Six Nations Chiefs
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