Canucks beat Flyers 11-3 to take stranglehold of first-round series

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — The Fort St. John Senior Flyers’ season is on thin ice after dropping behind three games to one in their playoff series.

Backed by the strength of six second-period goals, the Dawson Creek Canucks pounded the Flyers by a score of 11-3 on Thursday, February 12th in North Peace Hockey League (NPHL) action.

The loss means Fort St. John is in a must-win situation going forward, beginning with Saturday’s game five in Dawson Creek.

Dawson Creek got a pair of goals in the first period from Matt Schmermund, his second and third goals of the series. Owen Floriant of the Flyers responded with a goal as the Canucks led 2-1 after 20 minutes.

However, it was downhill for the Flyers on this night. The Canucks Brandon Rowley scored twice in a three-minute span in the second, with Schmermund scoring his third of the game.

Flyers’ goaltender Landon Hatton, coming off a 46-save performance in the Flyers’ game three loss, was pulled midway through the second, as Ty Gullickson stepped in for the remainder of the contest.

Other scorers in the frame included Alex Hanson, Brett Norman and Joey Massingham as the Canucks led 8-1 after the second.

In the third, Adam Horst and Braden Pimm had goals for the Flyers, but Massingham and Hanson had their second goals and a late marker by Wes Shipton made the score 11-3.

Fort St. John will try to keep its season alive – or break the hearts of their fans – in a do-or-die game on Saturday, February 14th at the Dawson Creek and District Memorial Arena.

Game time is scheduled for 8:30 p.m. If there is a game six, it will take place on Tuesday, February 17th at the same time at the North Peace Arena.

Further details are available on the Flyers’ Facebook page.