Huskies drop both games to start NWJHL 2025-26 finals

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — The Fort St. John Huskies face a familiar uphill battle in their quest for a sixth championship title in seven seasons.

The La Crete Lumber Barons hosted the first two games of the Strike Group North West Junior Hockey League (NWJHL) 2025-26 league finals and scored 14 total goals en route to a two- games-to-none lead over the Huskies in the best-of-seven series.

Coincidentally, this was the same deficit the Huskies faced last season, when they came back to win the NWJHL title. 

Huskies head coach Todd Alexander knows, going into Friday, March 13th’s game three, their disadvantage is familiar territory.

“It’s the same mission: first team to four games,” said Alexander. “We got three home games coming up. Our focus is on game three and making sure we are ready.

“We will make some adjustments this week in practice, and get back at it on Friday.” 

In game one, on Saturday, March 7th, Huskies forward Ryan Ungstad had goals both early in the first and late in the third. 

But, that was in between eight unanswered goals by the Lumber Barons as they took the series opener by a score of 8-3. Jonny Timmons had the other Huskies’ goal. 

Game two on Sunday, March 8th was an afternoon affair, one which saw two-goal games from Lumber Barons players Jonah Cardinal and Jackson Friesen.

Additional goals from La Crete’s Carter Fehr and Drew Friesen made the score 6-2 for the Lumber Barons. Xavier Burgher and Timmons had the Huskies’ goals.

Fort St. John will host the next two games in the NWJHL finals, starting with Friday, March 13th at the North Peace Arena. Game time is scheduled for 8 p.m.