Chris Clegg
NPHL.com Writer
Brett Norman scored five goals and added an assist to lead the Dawson Creek Canucks to an 8-2 win and a series sweep over the hometown Manning Comets in their NPHL Semi-Final Series Friday night.
With the win, DC advances to their first NPHL Final in 16 years, and fourth overall in franchise history. DC awaits the winner of the other NPHL Semi-Final, which sees Grande Prairie up 3-1 over the Falher Pirates.
Dave Lawrence opened the scoring for MAN at 3:02 of the first period but after that it was all DC.
Jonathan Jasper tied the game at 5:17 before Norman went to work, scoring a natural hat trick before the end of the period, and DC led 4-1. The final two goals came in the last 30 seconds during a 14-second span of play.
In the second period, Riley Muise scored his first of the playoffs to make it 5-1.
Jeremie Perron scored for MAN on a power play to make it 5-2; it was also his first of the playoffs.
After that, DC put the game away. Mike Lalonde scored with 9:56 left in the period, then Norman added two more goals in the final four minutes to make it 8-2.
The teams were scoreless in the third period.
DC did play the final 5:17 on the power play after Payton Proskurniak received a cross-checking minor and fighting major. He is suspended for the first game of next season. Dave Lawrence added a slashing minor and spearing double minor with 47 seconds left and DC ended the game on a two-man power play.
In the sweep, DC was clearly the better team outscoring MAN 24-6.
Canucks 8 at Comets 2
Friday, March 1
[Dawson Creek wins series 4-0]
First period
1. MAN, Dave Lawrence 1 (Bo Asmussen, Josh Rutherford) 3:02
2. DC, Jonathan Jasper 1 (Brett Norman, Kole Norris) 5:17
3. DC, Brett Norman 3 (Dolan Bjornson, Evan Weaver) 16:39
4. DC, Brett Norman 4 (Riley Muise) 19:30
5. DC, Brett Norman 5 (Dolan Bjornson, Jonathan Jasper) 19:44
Penalties: Bo Asmussen MAN (high-sticking) 11:10, Mike Lalonde DC (interference) 12:43, Mike Lalonde DC (tripping) 15:27, Dave Lawrence MAN (high-sticking) 16:28.
Second period
6. DC, Riley Muise 1 (Kevin Swales, Evan Weaver) 6:08
7. MAN, Jeremie Perron 1 (Michael Gillen, Dave Lawrence) 9:29 (pp)
8. DC, Mike Lalonde 3 (Jonathan Jasper, Kole Norris) 10:04
9. DC, Brett Norman 6 (Mike Lalonde, Spencer Gover) 16:26
10. DC, Brett Norman 7 (Mike Lalonde, Kole Norris) 19:13
Penalties: Jonathan Jasper DC and Tyler Dillman MAN (roughing) 1:32, Mike Lalonde DC (delay of game) 1:44, Evan Weaver DC (kneeing) 8:49, Evan Weaver DC (roughing) 10:58, Jonathan Jasper DC and Adam Larsen MAN (roughing) 13:03.
Third period
No scoring.
Penalties: Spencer Gover DC (high-sticking) 1:05, Evan Weaver DC and Matt Schmermund DC and Jeremie Perron MAN and Josh Rutherford MAN (roughing) 13:11, Payton Proskurniak MAN (cross-checking minor, fighting major, game misconduct) 14:43, Dave Lawrence MAN (slashing, spearing double minor, game ejection for third stick foul) 19:13.
Shots on goal:
Dawson Creek 16 16 17 -49
Manning 12 16 9 -37 Goaltenders: Canucks, Kenton White; Comets, Braden Gamble.
Power Plays: DC 0-4; MAN 1-6.
Penalties in Minutes: DC 20; MAN 35.