After a pair of seven-game semi-final series, the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League championship series is set with the Flin Flon Bombers and Yorkton Terriers slated to face off.
The Yorkton Terriers defeated the Battlefords North Stars 6-3 in game seven on Wednesday to return to the final for the first time since 2014.
Swift Current Legionnaires forward Trae Peterson had an assist on the final goal and has four points in six playoff games since joining the Terriers. Defenseman Nathan Gray, who spent part of the Western Hockey League season with the Swift Current Broncos, suited up for 13 playoff games with the Terriers after registering seven assists in 18 regular season games in Yorkton.
Gull Lake’s Will and Sam Kirwan were both on the North Stars this season. Will Kirwan had two assists in 12 playoff games on the blueline. Sam Kirwan did not suit up in the post-season, but had two goals and four assists in 28 games in the regular season. Eston’s Keegan Nash, another Legionnaires’ alumnus, had one assist in 12 playoff games.
The Flin Flon Bombers advanced to the championship final for the fourth time in five seasons with a 1-0 win over the Weyburn Red Wings on Wednesday.
Swift Current’s Ryder Knutson had two goals and three assists in 10 playoff games on the Bombers’ blueline. Former Broncos defenseman Sam Ward scored twice in two playoff games for the Bombers.
Swift Current’s Ryder Rommelaere had one assist in 10 playoff games for Weyburn. Central Butte’s Hunter Wilm also skated in one playoff game after his season with the Legionnaires. Former Swift Current Broncos netminder Joey Rocha finished with a 2.31 goals against average and a .930 save percentage in 13 playoff outings for the Red Wings.
Games one and two of the best-of-seven series will be on Friday and Saturday at the Whitney Forum in Flin Flon. Flin Flon had topped the regular season standings with a 41-11-3-1 record, 10 points ahead of second-place Yorkton, who finished 37-17-1-1.
