MacLean’s hat trick sinks Cancuks

Chris Clegg
NPHL.com Writer

The NPHL Final is down to a best-of-three.
Morgan MacLean scored three goals to lead the Grande Prairie Athletics to a 6-3 home ice win over the Dawson Creek Canucks Saturday night.
Each team has won its home games in the series with Game 5 shifting back to DC Tuesday night. The home team has now outscored their opposition 20-6 in the series.

MacLean scored a pair of first period goals to stake the home team to a 2-0 lead. GP would never trail on the night, taking over the game quickly. In addition to the two first period goals, GP outshot DC 20-6 in the period.
Sam Boseck made it 3-0 early in the second period before DC finally scored. Jonathan Jasper scored on the power play; it was one of DC’s three power play goals on the night in nine chances as they never scored at even strength.
Shortly after Jasper’s goal, Lyndin Lewis and MacLean countered to stake GP to a 4-1 lead.
Jeff Taylor scored for DC and Tanner Labbe for GP before the end of the period. Labbe’s goal chased starting goaltender Kenton White from the net.
Dolan Bjornson’s third period goal made it 6-3 but DC’s rally fell well short.

Dawson Creek 3 at Grande Prairie 6
Saturday, March 16
Best-of-Seven NPHL Final
[Series tied 2-2]

First period
1. GP, Morgan MacLean 6 (Blake Clement, Dennis Rix) 7:33
2. GP, Morgan MacLean 7 (Blake Clement) 16:16
Penalties: Morgan MacLean GP (high-sticking) 00:37, Evan Weaver DC (hooking) 2:23, Brett Norman DC and Morgan MacLean GP (unsportsmanlike) and Sheldon Hubbard GP (interference) 18:04, Kole Norris DC (interference) 19:34.
Second period
3. GP, Parker Sharp 3 (Sam Boseck) 2:30
4. DC, Jonathan Jasper 2 (Matt Schmermund, Jeff Taylor) 9:09 (pp)
5. GP, Lyndin Lewis 4 (Tyrell Mason) 9:50
6. GP, Morgan MacLean 8 (Chris Lanouette) 10:55
7. DC, Jeff Taylor 4 (Matt Schmermund, Kevin Hope) 13:03 (pp)
8. GP, Tanner Labbe 7 (Braden Crone, Chris Lanouette) 15:45
Penalties: Sam Boseck GP (tripping) 7:42, Andrew Buote GP (hooking) 11:07, Sheldon Hubbard GP (kneeing) 12:03, Jeff Taylor DC and Chris Lanouette GP and Devin Bell GP (cross-checking)) 20:00.
Third period
9. DC, Dolan Bjornson 2 (Kenny Murduff, Matt Schmermund) 1:28 (pp)
Penalties: Matt Schmermund DC (slashing) 7:32, Ben Moffatt DC (cross-checking) 13:33, Andrew Buote GP (tripping) 16:10, Kiefer Smiley GP (unsportsmanlike, served by Sheldon McArthur) 17:03. Devin Bell GP (slashing) 19:23.
Shots on goal:
DC: 6-9-10-25
GP: 20-17-6-43
Goal: Kenton White, DC (Josh Round in at 10:55 of second period); Kiefer Smiley, GP.
Power Plays: DC 3-9; GP 0-4.
PIM: DC 12; GP 22.