Chris Clegg
NPHL.com Writer
The Grande Prairie Athletics are off to the NPHL Final to meet the Dawson Creek Canucks after a convincing 9-0 home ice win over the Falher Pirates Tuesday night.
Alex Curran and Devin Bell each scored twice and Kiefer Smiley made 16 saves to lead the win.
Incredibly, for the A’s it was their first shutout in NPHL playoff franchise history in their 148th game played.
For FAL, it was not the worst shutout suffered in their playoff history. They were blanked 11-0 at home against the Grimshaw Huskies 58 years ago on Feb. 17, 1961.
GP led 2-0 after one period and 7-0 after two periods. Braden Crone’s goal only 23 seconds into the game would be all the scoring the A’s would need.
Other A’s goals were scored by Lyndin Lewis, Brock Clement, Tanner Labbe and Parker Sharp. Lewis, Mark Stojan and Sam Bosek each added two assists.
The game was a tame affair with only 26 minutes in penalties: 14 to FAL and 12 to GP. FAL was 0-for-5 on the PP while GP was 2-for-6 with Curran and Sharp netting the goals.
The NPHL Finals schedule will be posted on NPHL.com when made available.
Of note, the As’ will have their two suspended players back for the final. Chris Lanoette and Sheldon Hubbard have served their two-game bans.
The meeting between DC and GP will be the first time the two clubs have met in the NPHL Final.
Pirates 0 at Athletics 9
Tuesday, March 5
[Athletics win series 4-2]
First period
1. GP, Braden Crone 3 (Lyndin Lewis) 00:23
2. GP, Devin Bell 2 (Sam Bosek, Parker Sharp) 4:57
Penalties: Tanner Labbe GP (cross-checking) 10:33, Mackenzie Caron GP (boarding) 11:59.
Second period
3. GP, Devin Bell 3 (Mark Stojan) 2:49
4. GP, Alex Curran 3 (Dennis Rix) 5:47
5. GP, Alex Curran 4 (Tyrell Mason) 10:20 (pp)
6. GP, Lyndin Lewis 3 (Max McNeil) 11:30
7. GP, Tanner Labbe 5 (Lyndin Lewis, Braden Crone) 14:44
Penalties: Trevor Tokarz FAL (hooking) 3:46, Alex Curran GP (roughing) 7:21, Trevor Mazurek FAL (tripping, roughing) and Paul Larocque GP (roughing) 9:22.
Third period
8. GP, Parker Sharp 2 (Mark Stojan, Sam Bosek) 4:08 (pp)
9. GP, Brock Clement 2 (Jon Mirasty) 8:39
Penalties: Darren Brochu FAL (spearing double minor) 2:24, Brock Clement GP (interference) 10:36, Jon Mirasty GP (roughing) 14:12, Darren Brochu FAL (high-sticking) 16:28, Neil Maisonneuve FAL (cross-checking) 18:18.
Shots on goal:
Falher 8 3 5 -16
Grande Prairie 15 25 14 -54 Goaltenders: Pirates, Huston Buffalo (Chad Rycroft
in at 10:20 of second period);
Athletics, Kiefer Smiley.
Power Plays: FAL 0-5; GP, 2-6.
Penalties in Minutes: FAL 14; GP 12.