By Gerry Foster for the Grand Forks Gazette
As this is being written the Grand Forks Border Bruins are knocking on the playoff door.
A game last night between Spokane and Beaver Valley may have finalized everything; if Spokane, still in the hunt after last weekend, lost to the Nitehawks, then the Bruins have clinched a berth in the postseason.
A Spokane win would prolong the uncertainty, setting the stage for a dramatic battle between these two teams on Friday at 7 p.m. in Grand Forks.
Last weekend the Border Bruins picked up three crucial points in their two games, providing a cushion of six points over the Spokane Braves for the fourth spot in the Neil Murdoch Division; however, the Braves hold two games in hand.
In their final road game of the regular season last Friday, the Bruins rolled into Nelson to face the first place Leafs. Grand Forks was looking for their initial win of the season against Nelson. All of the games have been close, low scoring affairs, including this one.
Sixteen-year-old midget call-up Marty Ingram scored his first KIJHL goal in the opening frame for the home team. The Bruins responded with two power-play markers in the middle period, both off the stick of Riley Moler. This provided some momentum for the visitors going into the final period.
But the Leafs’ Sawyer Hunt tied the game eight minutes into the third. Then four minutes into overtime, Ryan Cooper scored unassisted, giving Nelson it’s fourth one-goal decision over Grand Forks out of the eight games played between the teams this season. Goaltender Quinn Yeager was magnificent in the nets for the Border Bruins, facing 43 shots.
Bears offensive star, Smoler, was ejected from the game after a checking from behind penalty, along with a double misconduct. Subsequently, he was handed a two-game suspension from the league. Riley has been a great addition to the team since being picked up from the Summerland Steam in early January, having scored eight goals in his last six games.
The Bruins returned home the next evening to host the Beaver Valley Nitehawks, desperately needing a win. The visitors seized an early lead with a power-play goal from Jaxen Gemmell.
Trey Mason tied the game before the first intermission with a beautiful goal. Nathan Cohen-Wallis fed him a pass and Mason deked netminder, Owen Sikkes, for his 22nd of the season.
Mason is impressive. He has such great hands and puck skills. It is worth the price of admission just to come and watch the Bruins’ leading scorer display a distinct talent.
Trey has compiled 65 points this season which is the second highest total by a Grand Forks Border Bruins player in at least the past 13 seasons. Connor Gross amassed 73 points in the 2010/11 season.
The Bruins sleepwalked through much of the final six minutes of the first period and the first four minutes of the second. Then Rilee Poffenroth put the home side ahead with the only goal of the middle stanza, his 10th of the season.
The tension mounted as the teams came out of the dressing room for the final period. Then Mason struck again, followed 90 seconds later by Briar Whyte. For the Edmontonian, it was his 12th of the year; he has been playing well of late, providing a spark for the team.
Down by three goals, Evan Gorman of the ‘Hawks, made it a two-goal game; nonetheless the Bruins continued to work hard, picking up a couple of late goals from Dalton Luce and Zane Avery for the crucial 6-2 victory.
Recently the Bears have played with a greater sense of urgency and more consistency. They will need to continue this should they make the playoffs.
Friday is the final game of the regular season for the Border Bruins. They played their first exhibition game on the first of September, almost six months ago. For players and fans this affords an opportunity to come together, celebrating a half century of junior hockey in Grand Forks.