Skyhawks NOJHL champs again!!!(Updated)

Despite off-ice distractions that almost kept him from crossing the border, David Frawley scored a pair as the North Bay Skyhawks wrapped up the NOJHL final with a 4-1 win on the road. File photo.


NOJHL Final Game 6

North Bay Skyhawks 4
Northern Mich. Black Bears 1

Final


David Frawley scored twice and Yves Bastien and Josh Merson added singles as the North Bay Skyhawks defeated the Northern Michigan Black Bears 4-1 in game 6 of the best of 7 NOJHL final at the Big Bear arena in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan. The win gives the Skyhawks their third consecutive NOJHL title winning the series 4-2.

The series wasn’t easy, after winning the first two games at home, the Black Bears put up a serious fight on their new home turf in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, winning in triple overtime in game 3 and drubbing the Hawks 5-0 Saturday afternoon in game 4.

The Skyhawks though, proved they were the better team. They came back with a convincing 4-0 win Monday night and following it up with another solid performance on the road Tuesday night.

“We obviously looked like a team that wanted to win tonight,” said elated head coach Randy Edmonds in a phone interview with BayToday.ca.

“We looked confident and we had a lot of jump.”

The Skyhawks got the early lead as David Frawley went top shelf on Black Bears goalie Tony Stoehr to put the Skyhawks on the board just over four minutes into the first frame.

The Black Bears drew even early in the second period as Steve Kruszewski scored on the power play and that’s when Skyhawks goalie Chris Abbey stepped it up.

“He made some key saves when score was 1-1,” Edmonds said.

Yves Bastien and Josh Merson scored less than two minutes apart midway through the period to give the Skyhawks a huge 3-1 lead heading into what they were hoping would be their last period of NOJHL hockey this season.

David Frawley added an insurance marker for his second of the game and the Skyhawks hung on for the victory. Marc-Andre Rizk didn’t score in this game but he was named the NOJHL's playoff MVP.

For Edmonds who came back to his roots to coach the local team, after coaching for close to a decade in the Swedish Elite League, the NOJHL title is pretty special.

“Feels great to come home after 20 years to win a championship,” said Edmonds.

“I’m just thankful to be part of a good organization. It just goes to show that our plan back in July to go with a younger more local team was not such a bad formula.”

On the other side, Black Bears coach Gerry Lortie felt his club was not at their best in game six and it showed.

"We never had a practice in the whole series and it showed," said Lortie, "especially in the last game. We never played up to par tonight or over the last two games. We didn't bring our forecheck to the rink tonight or last night (Monday).

"It was heartbreaking to lose like this but we've came a long way as a second year team," Lortie said. "We have nothing to be ashamed of. We'll have everybody back but four players next year. I'm proud of all 25 of those guys. Next year they'll have a hell of a team here."

Edmonds said the team will drive back home and take a couple days of rest before heading back onto the ice. The Skyhawks have little time to celebrate because early next week they will be heading to Georgetown for the start of the Dudley-Hewitt Cup.

Game Summary

First Period
1. NB: David Frawley (Yves Bastien, Brett Venasse) 04:02 FG

Penalties: Bill Brennan NM (SL) 04:55; Marc-Andre Rizk NB (RO) 15:59; Josh Merson NB (RO) 15:59; Chase Gallacher NB (RO) 15:59; Quinn Waller NB (RO) 15:59; Josh Merson NB (RO) 15:59; David Cappadocia NB (RO) 15:59; Bill Brennan NM (RO) 15:59; Ryan Behnke NM (RO) 15:59; Jared Lavender NM (RO) 15:59; Kyle Jacobson NM (RO) 15:59; Chris Kraft NM (RO) 15:59; Matt Collins NB (SL) 17:54;
Second Period
2. NM: Steve Kruszewski (Chris Kraft, Joel Rechlicz) 01:42 PP
3. NB: Yves Bastien (David Frawley, Alex Ward) 10:30 GW
4. NB: Josh Merson (Marc-Andre Rizk) 11:53

Penalties: Matt Collins NB (SL) 00:49; John Nogatch NM (ELB) 06:17; David Frawley NB (HKG) 16:52;
Third Period
5. NB: David Frawley (Marc-Andre Rizk, Yves Bastien) 14:07

Penalties: Bryan Pearse NM (HO) 00:38;

With files from Brad Coccimiglio of SooToday.com and NOJHL.com