Monarchs take 2-0 lead in League Final

A great playoff hockey atmosphere with a great crowd and 50/50, fast paced hockey with lots of chances for both teams to score...just 34 seconds into the first period Jaxon Tait would put the Broncs up 1-0. The Broncs would continue to put pressure on the Monarchs throughout the first ten minutes of the game but could not score. The Monarchs picked things up with nine minutes left in the period on a goal from Nolan Reid. Just over a minute later Kevin DuFour would score and the period ended 2-1 with the Broncs holding a 16-14 shot advantage. In the second period the Monarchs scored 7 minutes in on a goal from Riley Riddell to go up 3-1. With nine minutes left in the period Tyler Wilyman scored for Balcarres to make it 3-2. There would be no more scoring in the period. Of note was a great stop by Dean Brothen on a Kevin DuFour breakway in the last minute of the period to keep the score 3-2 going into the third period. 45 seconds into the third period Jaxon Tait would score his second goal of the game to tie the game up. Three minutes later Josh Beaudry would score what would end up being the game winning goal and the Monarchs were up 4-3. The Monarchs would then score two power play goals...one off the stick of Torrey Lindsay and the other by Kyle Johnson to go up 6-3 with just over seven minutes to go. Lumsden would add an empty net goal from Kevin DuFour and would also get a goal from Brett Aulie to make the final 8-3. Both goalies faced 43 shgots with Dawson MacCauley picking up the win for the Monarchs.

Game three will be in Balcarres on Saturday evening at 8:00 p.m. If the Broncs force a game four it will be at 6:00 p.m. in Lumsden on Sunday.

gjt