The Prince George Mohawks have won just one game but have already booked themselves a spot in the Savage Cup final in Fort St. John.
Hours after a Mohawks team with just nine skaters pasted Penticton 9-0, they learned Thursday morning the Vees have been disqualified from the three-team triple-A senior hockey provincial championship for using an ineligible player.
Instead of having to play a single-game elimination semifinal tonight, the Mohawks will face the host Fort St. John Flyers in a two-game, total-goal final that starts tonight and wraps up Saturday night.
"We had nine skaters and they has 12 and they used one guy under an assumed name," said Williams. "I don't know how, but the B.C. Amateur Hockey Association found out and it's in the rulebook that it's an automatic suspension and they have been turfed from the tournament."
Thursday's scheduled Fort St. John-Penticton game was cancelled.
"Fort St. John is on the hook for $20,000 or $30,000 to pay all the expenses to run this thing and I suggested that instead of a one-game final Saturday, to help out with the crowds, we would play a two-game, total-goal final," said Williams. 'That's what the two teams and B.C. Amateur have agreed to. Our best shot to beat Fort St. John was a one-game shootout Saturday night but you have to do what's best for hockey. The fans here will be better served watching us play Fort St. John in a two-game final."
Shaun Fomenoff scored four goals to lead the Mohawks in their rout of the Vees Wednesday. Guy Walch and Alex Wright combined for the shutout, making 34 saves. Brent Williams and Tyler Brough each collected two goals and Joe Morgan also scored. It ended 9-0, but the game was scoreless until late in the first period, when the Mohawks struck twice.
"We were pretty down, coming into the game having nine guys as it was, so our legs probably weren't there completely," Fomenoff said in the Alaska Highway News. "We just got into the dressing room after the first period and said we've played these guys all year so we know we could beat them.
"We were just trying to get through the game and hoping for the 'W', just needed to get some confidence going here because last night wasn't too good."
Fomenoff was referring to the Mohawks opening 10-2 loss to the Flyers Tuesday. Prince George had just 12 skaters and was outshot 61-12 by the defending Allan Cup national champions.
The Mohawks expect to have some reinforcements coming in for the two-game final. David Verticchio, Stew Lambert and Nick Matte, who had to return to Prince George after the first game to write college midterm exams or fill work commitments, are expected back tonight, along with Mark Nelson, Clarke Anderson, Tyson Hall, Brad Herman, Dustin Erickson and Tyrell Turgeon.
"Tuesday night against Fort St. John was tough sledding," said coach Williams. "Fort St. John added a couple of guys to their team [defencemen Kevin Warner and Tyrell Mason] we didn't know about and they are probably stronger this year than they were last year when they won the Allan Cup."
