Martensville Messenger May 26, 2016 | Page 9

If you have a sporting event that you would like included in an upcoming issue of the Martensville Messenger , please contact jhayward @ sasktel . net
By Tyler : Tyler Janzen Janzen

THIS WEEK IN SPORTS

Both of the Conference finals in the NHL are very tight right now as San Jose took the 3-2 series lead on Monday with a 6-3 win over St . Louis . This game was an absolute battle with three different fights . But as the special teams took over teams got very disciplined . St . Louis had the lead after the first but San Jose battled back to tie it at 3-3 going into the third period where the Sharks lit the lamp three times to take the win . It wasn ’ t as big of a goal differential in Pittsburgh but the win was just as big . The Lighting took a 3-2 series lead after taking a 4-3 overtime victory on Sunday after coming from behind to send it to the extra frame . Tampa hopes to clinch their spot in the Stanley Cup Final when they head back home on Tuesday for game 6 against the Pens . San Jose is in the same situation as they look to move on to the finals at home on Wednesday .
What ’ s this ? The Cleveland Cavaliers CAN be beat ? That ’ s right basketball fans , the only Canadian team in the NBA is the only team to get not only one win against the Cavs but two ! Both wins came on home territory . Some thought the Raps playoffs were over after they were slaughtered in the first two games of the series in Cleveland but Toronto came back and won both games at home to tie the series at 2-2 and send the teams back to the U . S . In game three the big man for Toronto Bismack Biyombo set a franchise record for most rebounds in a playoff game with 26 . He was in for the injured Jonas Valanciunas who sprained his ankle in game six against the Heat . Biyombo has been a staple for the Raptors and has earned his spot on the starting roster .
In the Western Conference Finals , the Thunder have the 2-1 series lead over the Warriors and putting up big points while doing so . The Thunder took the lead on Sunday after a 133-105 victory at home .
In case you missed it because your team was still in the playoffs , the IIHF World Hockey Championships finished up this Sunday with team Canada bringing home gold for the second year in a row . The Canadian squad rolled through the round robin games with their only loss being a 4-0 defeat to team Finland who did not lose a game through round robin games . The young stars were big in this tournament as top prospect Auston Matthews lead team USA to a fourth place finish . Patrik Laine who was projected second overall in the NHL entry draft lead team Finland in scoring with 7 goals and 5 assists . Canadas young star Connor McDavid didn ’ t have a goal throughout the whole tournament until it counted . As it was scripted in a movie , Finland would end up playing the Canadians in the final and who would score the first goal for Canada ? Connor McDavid . His first goal of the tournament couldn ’ t have come at a better time . Matt Duchene sealed the victory with an empty netter late in the third . In my opinion after watching this tournament I think Patrik Laine should be the first round pick of the entry draft . He competed at a high level against highly skilled opponents and beat out all of the current NHLers to win the IIHF World Hockey Championship ’ s Most Valuable Player . Laine will be a great asset to any team who picks him but in my eyes he should be chosen first overall .
ABOVE : Morgan Fournier # 44 , played for the North squad in the Senior Bowl Sunday at SMF Field .
Janine Hayward , , Martensville Messenger
The Rush played game 2 of the Western Final League series on Saturday to another sellout 15,000 plus crowd . The organization did a special tribute to the firefighters and people in Fort McMurray before the game . Green glow sticks were sold with profits going to help the residents of Fort Mac . The lights were dimmed and the crowd lit up their sticks in tribute to those affected by the fires . It also got the crowd martensville messenger - maY 26 , 2016 - Page 9

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Rush Hope to Repeat

and the players pumped to start the game . The Rush returned home with a 1-0 game lead over the Calgary Roughnecks . They stole a win last week in Calgary .
Aaron Bold , the Rush goaltender was stellar in net on Saturday turning away 39 shots . Mark Matthews led the team with 2 goals and 5 assists for the night . Zack Greer also had a big night with 6 points for the Rush .

Senior Bowl Champs

The North took the cup in the 9 man game this year by a score of 48-13 at the annual Ed Henick Senior Bowl championship at SMF field on Monday . Two local boys Carter Dyck and Morgan Fournier were among the young athletes who were selected for the North team . Dyck played Cornerback while Fournier played Linebacker . The players from 6 , 9 and 12 man high school teams participated in tryouts on April 23 and 24 to earn a spot to play this past weekend in the 3 senior bowl games .
Dyck and Fournier played this last year with the Martensville Royals football team under Coach Lyle
Evanisky . “ I ’ m proud to have players from Martensville representing our program at the provincial level ”, commented Evanisky . “ Playing football throughout high school has been an amazing experience ”, commented Fournier . “ The coaches helped the guys really connect and grow as individuals and as a team . I ' ve learned so much through this experience and I encourage others to go out for both the Royals and the Senior Bowl ”. Fournier and Dyck enjoyed the whole Senior Bowl experience as it gave them a chance to connect with players from former rival teams such as Delisle and Warman . They liked the competition playing with top seniors in the province .
Both teams played a very good defensive game . The Rush looked like they had clear sailing in the fourth with an 8-4 lead but the Roughnecks answered back with 2 goals . The Rush responded back with 2 quick goals within 8 seconds to take the wind out of the Roughneck sails . They took the 12-9 win and became the Western League Champions once again . They are headed to the National League
Championship to face the Buffalo Bandits . The Bandits are a high scoring team that score many goals off of the transition . They also need to watch Dhane Smith who is the league ’ s top scorer with 72 goals this year .
Game 2 will be back in Saskatoon on June 4 . Come out and cheer on your Rush to another National Championship . “ Are You Ready For the Rush ?”
ABOVE : Calgary ’ s Curtis Dickson and Saskatchewan ’ s John LaFontaine . Photo by Josh Schaefer / Saskatchewan Rush / GetMyPhoto . ca .
ABOVE : Morgan Fournier and Carter Dyck .

If you have a sporting event that you would like included in an upcoming issue of the Martensville Messenger , please contact jhayward @ sasktel . net