RANKIN INLET
Rankin Inlet clinched the final playoff spot in the Northern Hockey Challenge's Eastern Division following a wild four games of hockey action in Rankin this past weekend.
Repulse Bay staved off being eliminated from playoff contention on March 22 by defeating Kuujjuaq 11-5, before Kuujjuaq came back to defeat Repulse 11-6 the following day and officially push Repulse out of the playoff picture.
Rankin defeated Kuujjuaq 10-7 on Saturday, setting the stage for Sunday's clash and the right to advance to the Eastern final.
The game was tied at two until Rankin exploded for four unanswered goals in the second period to put them on the way to an 8-4 win.
In the Western Division final, Yellowknife had opened a two games to none lead over Hay River with 5-4 and 8-4 victories, pushing Hay River to the brink of elimination on March 24.
Hay River came up with an outstanding effort in Yellowknife, and edged the Flyers 5-4 when Scott Bolt scored what turned out to be the winner with just more than two minutes remaining in the third.
That series will now return to the lively barn in Hay River for Game 4 on April 5 and Game 5, if necessary, on April 6.
Rankin's two wins over Kuujjuaq now sets up an Eastern Division championship against their longtime rival, Iqaluit.
The opening date of the final was not determined as of press time.
Rankin head coach Donald Clark said the most intense game of the weekend was the fourth game this past Sunday afternoon.
He said for all intensive purposes, it was a playoff game.
"You have to feel a little bit for Kuujjuaq because it's tough to come in and play four games of this calibre on one weekend," said Clark.
"They also had two of their best players miss their connections and not be available for the Friday night game against Repulse, which they lost, and that worked in our favour too.
"It was bad luck for them that the two weekends hit by bad weather earlier in the season both involved their games, but you're always going to have to deal with weather in the east.
"But, Iqaluit and Rankin have two very good hockey clubs, so it should be an interesting final."
