Morning Star Staff
The second-place Spartan Auto Bulls are in the Boston Pizza Hockey League playoff finals.
The Bulls bounced the first-place and defending champion Godard Excavating Predators 1-0 Saturday night at Priest Valley Arena.
The Preds took on the fourth-place RE Postill & Sons Orphans Tuesday night with the winner moving to the best-of-three final, starting tonight (9:45) at PV.
Taylor Jackson’s goal late in the first period stood up for the Bulls (21-9). University of Maine Black Bear grad Jeff Mushaluk and Steve St. Denis drew assists.
Travis Corrie made 24 saves for the shutout, while Sicamous Eagles’ grad Chris Kingdon blocked 20 shots for the Preds (26-5). The Bulls took eight minor penalties, the Preds six.
The Orphans (18-12) won back-to-back games to reach Tuesday’s semfinal in the double-knockout format.
Veteran Murray Vetsch was the 20th shooter and he beat Teale Utility Canuck goalie Steven Clark as the Orphans won 4-3 Saturday night at PV.
Former Viper captain Dave Robinson, ex-Prince George Spruce King Leath Gare and Jamie Johanson also registered shootout snipes for the Orphans.
Brett Heitman, former Vernon Laker 100-goalman Jason Elders and Cory Disher supplied shootout goals for the fifth-place Canucks (18-12).
Reed Church put the Canucks up 3-2 with 1:47 remaining in regulation, but Viper grad Bryce Kakoske equalized for the Orphans with 34 seconds to play.
Gare and Robinson provided regulation goals for the Orphans, while Elders netted a deuce for the Canucks.
Former Dawson Creek Rage d-man Kevin Swales earned two assists for the Canucks.
Rodger Sewell took the win with 24 saves, Clark the loss with 37 stops.
Kakoske, who won the regular-season scoring title, racked up 4+2 and Gare pocketed five assists as the Orphans grounded the ninth-place Leko Precast Blackhawks 6-4 Saturday night at PV.
Brad Sindlinger and d-man Joe Dolling counted singles for the Orphans, who trailed 4-3 at the ice clean. Johanson had two helpers.
Mike Mason collected 2+1 for the Hawks (14-18), singles going to Corey Webb and Dylan Wiebe.
The Orphans outshot the Hawks 26-22 with Jason Silzer taking the win, Jason Hoffman the loss.
