Dresden Kings Eliminated After Game 6 Loss

They made it farther than most expected, however it wasn’t the ending a packed crowd at the Lambton-Kent Memorial Agricultural Centre were hoping for. The Dresden Kings saw their season come to a close Friday night as they fell to the Essex 73s 6-3 in game 6 of their best of 7 series.

Tyler Pope-Ferguson opened the scoring for Essex in the first period, and was a driving force for the 73s throughout the game scoring a hat trick in the win. Pope-Ferguson scored his first on a beautiful tip that went top shelf off a Tyler Raymont point shot.

In the second period, Dylan Solecki, who has had the Kings’ number throughout the Great Lakes semi-final, extended the 73’s lead, before Kevin Boggs made it 3-0 heading into the third period.

With desperation in their step, the Kings came out flying in the third period with Macks Holmes putting the home team on the board only 27-seconds into the frame. Pope-Ferguson would answer back only two minutes later for Essex, deflating the Kings.

After Jim Rouse scored with under 7-minutes to go, Pope-Ferguson scored his hat trick goal keeping Essex in control with the scoreboard reading 5-2. Jordan Brohman would score an insurance goal at the 16-minute mark of the third period before Jim Rouse scored his second goal of the game in the final minute.

Unfortunately for the Kings, it was too little too late as they fell 6-3 in game 6, ending their series 4 games to 2 in favour of the 73’s.

With only Jim Rouse and Wendel Mertz graduating as overagers, the Dresden Jr. Kings will be able to return a veteran lineup next season.

Essex will now advance to face the Belle River Canadiens in the Great Lakes Junior C final. Essex was the regular season champion while Belle River, last season’s champion, finished just behind the 73’s in the regular season standings.