ICE ICE BABY! NIAGARA UPSETS BANFF; WINS SERIES IN 6 GAMES

The Niagara Ice are moving onto round 2! A thrilling 6 game series victory over the Banff Rockies, sees the Ice continue their playoff journey. Last year, Niagara led Banff 3-2 in the Conference Final, but were not able to close out the series loosing in 7 games to the Rockies. This time Niagara would write a different ending to the story. The Ice would close out the series with a stunning 8-1 home ice win. A ton of credit has to be given to Ice goalie, Casey DeSmith. DeSmith made 41 saves in Game 6 and would close out the series going 4-2 with a 1.79 GAA and .951 SV%. He was definitely the story of this 1st round. However, one may say DeSmith is the reason the Ice were even in a playoff spot. An early season acquistion, DeSmith would go on to play a career high 61 games. He went 30-19-0 with 3 shutouts and .895 SV%. A definite backbone of the team. Lets not forget about Defenseman, Jake Sanderson. Niagara's leading point getter with 91 points (20G,71A) during the regular season, would lead the Ice with 8 points in this series. And how about Tyson Foerster with a team leading 4 playoff goals. During the regular season he registered career highs with 17 Goals and 13 Assists for 30 Points in 82 Games. He played in every game. What a difference maker he has been. Different players stepping up at different times for Niagara. A total team effort. 

Ice media caught up with GM, Cam Szondi, after the game. Here are her thoughts on the game and the series. "This series was very close. Banff is a great team. They are well managed. They have alot of great players over there. It took a total team effort to come out of this series on the winning end. When we won Game 5 on the road that was huge. It kind of swung the momentum in our favor. I m glad we were able to close it out on our home ice. Last year we couldnt do that. Going back to Banff for a game 7 would have been tough. We really wanted to play a good game in front of our fans and we did that. They ve been with us all year supporting us, we did it for them. I couldnt be much happier then i am now for our guys and our fans."  When asked about taking on the Underdog role in the series, Cameron had this to say, "Well no one picked us to win. The odds makers gave us a 4% chance lol.  It kind of took the pressure off us. We werent expected to go anywhere, but our players believed. Last year's run gave us a taste of what playoffs are like. Its a new season in the playoffs, anything can happen. I really thought our goaltending was amazing. Casey DeSmith had an amazing series. Here is a guy who never really has gotten a chance to be a no. 1 goalie before and he comes here and shines. Its quite the story.  Im very happy for him."

The Ice will celebrate this victory tonight before getting ready for Round 2. A series in which they ll face the Conference Champion, Acadia Grizzly Bears.