For the first time in at least three seasons, the Prince George Senior Lacrosse Finals will feature a new team.
The Northland Nissan Assault punched their ticket to the championship after beating the Mackenzie Lumberjacks 2-0 in the best-of-three semi-finals last night (July 8).
They thumped the visiting ‘Jacks 18-4 at Kin 1 Arena, and on Wednesday last week (July 3), they fought to a 13-9 victory in the District of Mackenzie.
Assault’s offense came alive in the second and third periods of Game Two.
Alternate captain Matt Rochon scored a game-high six goals and had a hat-trick in the final frame.
Dave Jenkins provided six helpers in the contest, the most of any player on the floor, while goaltender Russill Mills backed up his team to a 29-save victory.
In Mackenzie’s last game of 2019, netminder Norman Frenuig stopped 22 shots on goal and Bryston Murphy potted two of the Lumberjacks’ four goals.
They wouldn’t go down without a fight however as nearly 40 minutes in penalty minutes were recorded between the two clubs, including 27 in the second stanza alone.
The Assault will get a week’s break before starting of the final series in a war on the floor for the Dale Rolufs Memorial Trophy.
They await the winner of the other semi-final match-up between the defending two-time-champion Westwood Pub Devils and the RPR Mechanical/JRJ Construction Bandits.
The Devils currently have the 1-0 advantage on the Bandits in the best-of-three contest after winning Game One by a 12-5 rout.
Game Two goes for tonight (July 9), 8 p.m. at Kin 1 Arena.
If Bandits win and even the series at 1-1, Game Three will take place Thursday night (July 11).
