The Innisfail Eagles are in the driver's seat of the North Central Senior AA Hockey League Vanberg Cup Final.
Innisfail took a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven series Saturday, knocking off the Lacombe Generals 6-3. Lacombe fought back with 4-3 win in Game 3.
Six different goal scorers found the back of the net for the Eagles in the March 15 win at home. Dave Nippard, Ty Clay, Tyler Berkholtz, Quintin Lisoway, Justin Moltzahn and Chase Thudium scored for Innisfail. Lacombe got goals from Cam Maclise, Thomas Beretta and Jared Williams in the loss.
In Sunday's win, Lacombe led 4-1 after 40 minutes, with goals from Williams, Beretta, Craig Gans and Colin Zimmer. Innisfail scored twice in the third to cut the deficit, with Thudium and Jacob Wozney scoring. On top of the first period goal, Gans had two assists for the Generals and leads all players in playoff points with 17.
Chance Griffith made 43 saves in the loss for Innisfail, while Mackenzie Engel stopped 33 shots for Lacombe.
According to the NCHL game sheet, more than 900 people attended each of the weekend contests.
Game 4 is March 21 at 8 p.m. in Innisfail, with Game 5 in Lacombe at 7:45 p.m. Game 6 is in Innisfail at 7:30 p.m. if necessary and Game 7 would be in Lacombe at 3 p.m. on March 30.
