Wheelers 5 Canucks 2

DAWSON CREEK -- The Dawson Creek Jr. Canucks and the Grande Prairie Wheelers squared off Saturday night in the fifth and deciding game of the NWJHL's quarter final playoff series.

Dawson Creek had forced game five with a 7-4 win in Grande Prairie the night before but it was Grande Prairie who held a lead through 20 minutes. Charles Radke took an undisciplined penalty late in the first and the Wheelers capitalized. A point shot was tipped home by Cody Atkinson right as the period was ending and the Wheelers had a 1-0 lead at the break.

In the second the Canucks answered on the power play. With the Canucks on a power play Nathan Bomben put a snap shot over the pads of goaltender Ryan Brausen to tie the game at one.

It remained tied until the 14:35 mark when the Wheelers got another power play marker, this time from Cordell Shmyr. Just 22 seconds later we had the game's Safeway turning point. Michael Podruzney made the score 3-1 after 40 minutes.

In the third, Dawson Creek poured it on and got to within one at the 9:17 mark when Jason Higson snapped home a power play goal. That was as close as the Canucks would get.

Late in the period, Dawson Creek went to the power play and pulled goaltender Cody Garnett hoping to tie the hockey game. It wouldn't work though and as the Wheelers cleared the zone they found the back of the empty net. They would add another into an empty net to win the game 5-2.

Grande Prairie went 2 for 5 on the power play while the Canucks went 2 for 6.

Cardinal Telecom three stars: 1) Brausen 2) Higson 3) Atkinson. Jock's hardest working Canuck: Higson.