Ethan Hay scored two goals as part of his four-point night and Rodwin Dionicio also collected four points, leading the Saginaw Spirit to a 7-1 semifinal win over the Moose Jaw Warriors to punch their ticket to Sunday’s Memorial Cup final.
Saginaw opens up the scoring and makes it 1-0 when 2023 Tampa Lightning 7th rounder Ethan Hay ripped one upstairs over the shoulder of Jackson Unger at 3:03 of the first period. The assists on the goal went to Sebastian Gervais and Sault Ste Marie, Ontario native Lincoln Moore.
The Warriors Lucas Brenton had a goal called off for interference shortly after Hay opened the scoring up.
Jagger Firkus then ties the game up with a beautiful backhand that trickled past Andrew Oke at 7:08 of the first period. The goal was unassisted.
Shots on goal in the first period were 9 to 6 for Saginaw.
Braden Hache scores for Saginaw to make it 2-1 with the assists on the goal going to Michael Misa and Jorian Donovan at 1:53 of the second period.
Then Owen Beck roofs one upstairs and makes it a 3-1 game for Saginaw at 3:47 of the second period with the assist going to Josh Bloom and Rodwin Dionico.
Lincoln Moore scores on a one time shot from the side of the net at 9:05 of the second period with the assists going to Ethan Hay and Sebastien Gervais.
Ethan Hay scores and makes it 5-1 Its their fourth line again with the assists on the goal going to Lincoln Moore and Rodwin Dionico at 3:47 of the second.
Sebastien Gervais makes it 6-1 at 14:24 of the second period with the assists on the goal going to Ethan Hay and Rodwin Dionico.
A high-five of goals for Saginaw in second, all coming 12:31 apart – just short of third place for fastest five goals in tournament in Internet Era. 5 goals in a period ties six other occasions for 2nd most since 1999, last by Halifax (2x) in 2013.
Shots on goal in the second period were 21-11 for Saginaw.
TSN had Jesse Pollock on doing drills at the commercial and it is the first time I have witnessed him do anything on TV with out sneaking in a political reference somewhere. Probably could do wonders for the guys career if he could keep his yap shut on political stuff.
Rodwin Dionico makes it 7-1 Saginaw unassisted 1:10 into the third period.
As these last few minutes wind down and I look at the Warriors players and think how many are leaving next year. Moose Jaw may be in some rough shape next season. If and thats a big IF Yager is back (tending he doesn’t make Pittsburgh) I would expect a trade.
Shots on goal in the third period were 8-7 for Moose Jaw. The Saginaw Spirit outshot the Warriors 37-25 in the game.
Andrew Oke saved 23 of the 24 shots that he faced for the win for the Spirit. But he didn’t do it alone. For 1:29 of the Second period Oke had to go to the bench for a bit to fix some equipment. So for that time back up goalie Nolan Lalonde went in and stopped the 1 puck he faced before letting Oke go back in the net. For the Warrior Jackson Unger made 30 saves on the 37 shots he faced.
Player of the game was Ethan Hay and that is exactly who I would of picked guy played awesome.
Attendance was 4,978
The Memorial Cup Final will be played on Sunday May 2nd London vs Saginaw
