Penetrator Advances to the Elite 8

Yellowknife (CP) As the final seconds ticked away, fireworks went off only to be drowned out by the deafening roar from the sellout crowd. The scoreboard read ‘We Win’ and for the third time this series YDP defended home ice and eliminated the San Diego Aviators 4 games to 1. ‘We fought all year for home ice and it’s paying off now,’ said Hannan. The PP was once again a determining factor tonight as YDP held a 5-2 advantage, which included two two-man advantages. If it were not for the brilliant play of Sean Burke (again) this game would have been over a long time ago.

YDP came out of this series with a clean bill of health. The boys will get several days off before starting the conference semifinals at home against either the Rovers or the Stingers. Everyone in Penetrator Nation will be cheering for the Stingers tomorrow night, hoping that Cinderella continues her run for two more games. When asked whom they’d prefer everyone in YDP said they wanted the Stingers. ‘No disrespect to the Stingers, but no one wants to play the Rovers,’ said Renberg. Whether YDP faces the Rovers now or later it’s becoming quite obvious to this reporter that the road to the King’s Cup will travel through Baffin Isle.

Ima Dumass (CP)

YDP Wins Calder!

Yellowknife (CP) As the final seconds ticked away, the fans roared as fireworks went off and confetti fell from the skies. The scoreboard at the I&S Mineshaft read ‘YDP clinch Calder.’ It seemed like yesterday when I covered the press conference at (Yellowknife) City Hall where Commissioner Myers announced that the RHL had just granted Yellowknife an expansion franchise and now the boys are division champs.

YDP started the game very tight no thanks to the Selects thrashing over the Thundercats earlier in the evening. Greg Johnson silenced the crowd when he made it 1-0 midway through the first period. It took YDP over a period to respond and tie it up at 1 a piece, when newly acquired Brian Rolston riffled a slapshot past Brodeur.

The tension in the rink grew during the 2nd intermission as news of the Selects win spread like wildfire. YDP now needed to win to avoid a messy tiebreaker scenario. Penetrator Nation got what they wanted 8 minutes and 44 seconds into the 3rd period, as Brian Rolston scored his 7th goal in the last 7 games giving YDP a 2-1 lead that they wouldn’t relinquish.

The win capped off a great final 15 games for YDP as they went 12-3 including two wins against the Selects to capture their first division title. The boys will get a week off before facing either the Crystals, Aviators or Freeze in the round of 16.

Ima Dumass (CP)