The Fort Frances Lakers and Thunder Bay North Stars are four wins away from lifting the Bill Salonen Cup.
The North Stars are in the league championship for the first time since 2023 after sweeping their quarterfinal against the Ironwood Lumberjacks and dispatching the Dryden GM Ice Dogs in five games of their semi-final series.
The Lakers knocked out the defending league champion Fighting Walleye in six games to earn a trip to the final for the first time since 2016.
The team was able to advance despite missing Goaltender Nolan Koethler and Defenceman Bradyn Rowsell to season ending injuries.
“I think having some guys injured and having (Koethler) out has made everyone want to play even harder,” explained Lakers Captain Pierce Gouin. “As I’ve said before, I believe that everyone plays for the guy next to them, and that’s what we showed in the semifinals.”
Defenceman Wyatt Greer was handed an eight-game suspension after receiving a Match penalty Match for Head Contact and a Major for Roughing in Game Four against the Fighting Walleye. Should the championship go to a seventh game, he would be eligible to return to the lineup.
The Lakers won six head-to-head games during the regular season and outscored the North Stars 33-18. The only two North Stars victories came at Fort William Gardens in Thunder Bay.
“Everyone is happy and excited to be in the finals, but we know that the job isn’t done,” Gouin added. “We still have to go into every game ready to play and can’t be content with where we are right now. Every game needs to be better than the last.”
“The North Stars are definitely a skilled team, but if we play our game every night, they are going to have a challenge.”
The Lakers won three consecutive Bill Salonen Cups between 2014 and 2016. The North Stars have won six championships with their last one coming in 2019.
BILL SALONEN CUP FINAL SCHEDULE
Friday April 17th
North Stars @ Lakers 8:45 p.m. ET
Saturday April 18th
North Stars @ Lakers 8:15 p.m. ET
Monday April 20th
Lakers @ North Stars 7:30 p.m. ET
Tuesday April 21st
Lakers @ North Stars 7:30 p.m. ET
BELOW GAMES ARE IF NECESSARY
Friday April 24th
North Stars @ Lakers 8:15 p.m. ET
Saturday April 25th
Lakers @ North Stars 7:00 p.m. ET
Tuesday April 28th
North Stars @ Lakers 8:15 p.m. ET
The Bill Salonen Cup champion will represent the SIJHL at the Centennial Cup in Summerside, Prince Edward Island. Here’s what the round robin schedule looks like for that event:
Friday May 8th vs. Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL) champions
Saturday May 9th vs. Manitoba Junior Hockey League (MJHL) champions
Monday May 11th vs. Central Canada Hockey League (CCHL) champions
Tuesday May 12th vs. Summerside Western Capitals (HOSTS)
