Chris Clegg
NPHL.com Writer
The Dawson Creek Canucks will enter the Christmas break with the best record in the NPHL’s West Division.
DC [9-2-0-0] won for the second time this season in FSJ [6-5-0-0] as they whipped the Flyers 5-1 Thursday night. Oddly, it’s the third game of the season between the clubs and the home team has yet to win. Earlier this season, DC won in FSJ 9-7; FSJ won in DC 7-4.
DC limited FSJ to only 25 shots on goal as Kenton White recorded the win making 24 saves.
Jason Higson’s power play goal gave DC the early lead but Daylen Pearson tied the game with 1:49 left in the first period. It was all the scoring FSJ would do on this night.
In the second, John Wayne Howes scored the eventual game-winner. Kyler Krantz would add another goal with 2:10 left.
In the third, Brett Norman and Mike Lalonde scored goals in the first minute to make it 5-1 and DC coasted to the win. DC completely shut down FSJ’s attack allowing only four shots in the period.
The game lived up to its billing as being a battle of the least penalized teams in the NPHL. Each team received only eight PIMs in the game.
Canucks 5 at Flyers 1
Thu., Dec. 20
First period
1. DC, Jason Higson 3 (Brett Norman, Evan Weaver) 4:04 (pp)
2. FSJ, Daylen Pearson 1 (Jeff Shipton) 18:11
Penalties: Tyrell Fenton FSJ (cross-checking) 3:31, Brett Norman DC (slashing) 19:34.
Second period
3. DC, John Wayne Howes 2 (Levi George, Spencer Gover) 3:07
4. DC, Kyler Krantz 3 (Colin Mathieson, Ryan Friesen) 17:50
Penalty: James Walsh FSJ (interference) 14:37.
Third period
5. DC, Brett Norman 8 (unassisted) 00:33
6. DC, Mike Lalonde 5 (Ben Moffatt) 00:56
Penalties: Kyler Krantz DC (slashing) 6:50, Kevin Hope DC (interference) 14:01, Keenan Larson FSJ (tripping) 16:25, Kevin Hope DC (cross-checking) and Lien Miller-Jeanotte FSJ (roughing) 17:10.
Shots on goal:
Dawson Creek 9 13 8 -30
Fort St. John 12 9 4 -25 Goaltenders: Canucks, Kenton White; Flyers, Travis Mclean.
Power Plays: DC 1-3; FSJ 0-3.
Penalties in Minutes: DC 8; FSJ 8.