The Doyle Cup will go to a seventh game for a second straight season with the Spruce Grove Saints producing a 2-0 win with their season on the line to force one more game for all the marbles Sunday night in Alberta.
Saturday evening's Game 6 was another low-scoring struggle between the two clubs. The Saints scored a couple of goals late in the first that would prove to be all the offence on the night.
David Glen opening the scoring on a power play with just under four minutes left in the first and it turned out to be the game-winning goal. Series-leading scorer Scott Allen added his fifth of the Doyle Cup at 18:58 of the first for insurance.
It was strong play by Saints netminder Vince Marozzi early in the first allowed the home side to stay in the game and eventually take the lead. Vernon may have taken the early edge as they were given two power plays by the midway point but the goalie committed larceny several times when the score was still 0-0.
In the second, each team had an opportunity with the man advantage but neither could capitalize. The Saints successfully clogged up the neutral zone and prevented the Snakes from gaining their line with any speed.
The third was more of the same with Spruce Grove providing lockdown defensive structure. Dylan Walchuk's roughing infraction was the only penalty of the third but Vernon killed it off.
The Vipers pulled goalie Kirby Halcrow with just under 1:30 to go but even with the extra attacker, they could not put a puck past Marozzi, who earned the first shutout of this year's Doyle Cup.
Sunday's game will mark the second straight year the Doyle Cup has gone the full seven games. Vernon won last year's series-deciding game rather handily but did have home-ice advantage that time. The Saints get that honour this year and will try to capitalize on it.
Puck drop for Game 7 is 6 p.m. Pacific time at Grant Fuhr Arena in Spruce Grove.
