Chris Clegg
NPHL.com Writer
The Dawson Creek Canucks held serve Wednesday night in the NPHL Final.
Kole Norris scored two power play goals as DC skated to a 4-1 win to take a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven series.
GP took the early lead with the only goal in the first period. Mackenzie Caron scored at 10:23 but that would be all GP would muster on offence the entire night.
DC took control of the game in the second period, outscoring GP 3-0 despite being outshot 16-13. Norris scored his first at 6:22. Later, Dolan Bjornson gave DC the lead at 7:21.
GP did have their chances, however. Late in the period, GP was on the power play but Ryan Friesen scored a short-handed unassisted goal to put DC up 3-1.
Norris added a second power play goal in the third period four seconds past the midway point to end the scoring. DC would score all its goal on special teams.
The home team has dominated the series so far, winning all three games and outscoring the opposition 14-3.
Game 4 is back in GP Saturday night.
GP will lose the services of Jon Mirasty and Darion Fay Saturday while DC loses the services of John Wayne Howes. All three are suspended one game for receiving game misconducts in the last 10 minutes of the third period – Mirasty and Howes for fighting, Fay for a cross-checking major as time expired.
Grande Prairie 1 at Dawson Creek 4
Wednesday, March 13
[DC leads series 2-1]
First period
1. Mackenzie Caron 6 (Andrew Buote) 10:23
Penalties: Brett Norman DC (high-sticking) 5:12, Sheldon Hubbard GP (interference) 1:50, Sheldon Hubbard GP and Kevin Hope DC and Jonathan Jasper DC (roughing) 14:01, John Wayne Howes DC (hit to the head minor, misconduct) 19:15, Tyrell Mason GP (holding) 19:33.
Second period
2. DC, Kole Norris 1 (Ben Moffatt, Brett Norman) 6:22 (pp)
3. DC, Dolan Bjornson 1 (Evan Weaver, Kevin Swales) 7:21 (pp)
4. DC, Ryan Friesen 3 (unassisted) 18:36 (sh)
Penalties: Paul Larocque GP (high-sticking double minor) 3:57, Mark Stojan GP (hooking) 4:34, Ryan Friesen DC (boarding) 8:11, Dennis Rix GP (roughing) 12:09, Kevin Hope DC (high-sticking) 12:31, Matt Schmermund DC (tripping) 18:03.
Third period
5. DC, Kole Norris 2 (Brett Norman, Jonathan Jasper) 10:04 (pp)
Penalties: Brock Clement GP and Jeff Taylor DC (roughing) 6:31, Braden Crone GP and Kiefer Smiley GP and Riley Muise DC (roughing) 6:55, Dennis Rix GP (slashing) 9:53, Tyrell Mason GP (interference) 12:43, Brock Clement GP (misconduct), Jon Mirasty GP and John Wayne Howes DC (double minors for leaving the bench, fighting majors, game misconducts) 16:41, Blake Clement GP (cross-checking) 19:10, Devin Bell GP (hooking) 19:47, Darion Fay GP (cross-checking major, game misconduct) 20:00.
Shots on goal:
GP: 14-16-7-37
DC: 8-13-13-34
Goaltenders: Kiefer Smiley, GP; Kenton White, DC.
Power Plays: GP 0-6; DC 3-10.
PIM: GP 72; DC 47.