South Shore Kings Defeat Mercer, 4-0, Advance To Championship Round For Third Straight Year

The South Shore Kings, defending Dineen Cup Champions for at least the next roughly 24 hours, will get a chance to win the Cup again. After defeating the Mercer Chiefs in the final non-championship elimination game on Sunday by a 4-0 score, the Kings will now have to defeat the Idaho Falls Spud Kings twice to regain the Cup.

The Spud Kings can win the Cup with one win Monday or a loss on Monday and a win on Tuesday in this double-elimination format.

For the Kings, they got a heroic goaltending performance from Beau Lane, who turned away all 48 shots he faced on Sunday, adding to the total of 137 saves on 140 shots since the start of the Dineen Cup Championship tournament on Friday. He has played 237:58 in net during the tournament, including a 76-minute overtime performance in Game 1 – in which the Kings lost to the Spud Kings by a 1-0 score – and a 101:58 run in net during Saturday’s triple overtime win against the Northern Cyclones. He did not look at all tired in turning away 48 more shots over only the second 60-minute game out of the five so far at the tournament.

For goals, Hunter Bruce got the Kings started with the first at the 8:48 mark of the first period, assisted by Tyler Maxner and Jason Zaccari. This would stand up as the ultimate game-winner. Ethan Woolcott made it 2-0 for the Kings with his goal at 15:37 of the second period, assisted by Will Rassier and Brian Grant.

At 15:07 of the third, Zachary Walsh added to the Kings’ insurance with a goal assisted by Rassier. Hunter Bruce scored an empty net goal at 18:41 of the third, assisted by Grant.

For Mercer, Cole Werthman made 32 saves on 35 shots.