Chiefs force Game 7

The Six Nations Chiefs kept their Mann Cup hopes alive on Saturday night, defeating the New Westminster Salmonbellies 10–6 in Game 6 to force a decisive Game 7. It was the kind of game the series hadn’t yet seen: a tightly contested, disciplined matchup defined by goaltending, defence, and timely scoring.

The first period set the tone with end-to-end exchanges and little room for error. Ian MacKay opened the scoring for the Chiefs, but the Salmonbellies responded through Haiden Dickson on a power play and Tye Kurtz shortly after. Ryan Smith and Shayne Jackson answered for Six Nations to give the visitors a 3–2 edge after twenty minutes. Both Frank Scigliano and Doug Jamieson were sharp from the outset, each facing quality shots as the clubs traded momentum shifts.

The second period swung heavily in the Chiefs’ favour when they rattled off four straight goals. Lyle Thompson, Ryan Smith, Nonkon Thompson and Cody Jamieson all found the net as Six Nations stretched the lead to 7–3. The Salmonbellies clawed back into it through Dickson, who scored twice to complete his hat trick and breathe life back into the New Westminster offence. The frame also brought a scare for the Bellies when Will Malcom left with an injury, returning only briefly in the third.

The final period was a war of attrition, with Six Nations protecting their cushion and New Westminster struggling to mount consistent pressure. Jackson scored his second of the night to restore a four-goal margin, and though Kurtz broke through after a long drought and later completed his hat trick in the final minute, the Chiefs held firm. Tyson Bell added an empty-netter and MacKay sealed it with another as Six Nations closed out the 10–6 win.

Shayne Jackson earned MSL Player of the Game honours for the Chiefs with two goals and an assist, while Dickson led New Westminster with three goals to earn WLA Player of the Game. Kurtz added three goals and one assist, while Mitch Jones collected three helpers for the Bellies. The Chiefs spread their scoring more widely: Dhane Smith notched four assists, MacKay contributed two goals and two assists, Lyle Thompson finished with a goal and two helpers, Ryan Smith recorded two goals and an assist, Jamieson and Nonkon Thompson each had a goal and an assist, and Bell chipped in a goal of his own.

Scigliano finished with 45 saves on 55 shots for New Westminster, good for an .822 save percentage, while Jamieson turned aside 30 of 34 for an .882 mark. The Salmonbellies held the edge in shots through forty minutes, but Six Nations turned the tide in the third, outshooting their hosts 18–12 as New Westminster’s offence sputtered.

The win sets up a winner-take-all Game 7 on Sunday night, a fitting finale to a series that has tightened and evolved with every contest. With the Mann Cup on the line, both teams will look to deliver one final statement in what has already been a memorable showdown.

Tickets for Game 7 went on sale moments after the conclusion of Game Six and were sold out almost immediately.

Photos: Bold Photos by Shelly