It will be a night Dryden GM Ice Dogs captain Derek McPhail will never forget!
Standing on the blueline for the announcement of the starting lineups, the 20-year forward unknowingly watched as his number 21 was raised to the rafters, never to be worn again by another player.
And then one minute after his number was retired, the five year veteran with the only Junior club he has ever known went out and scored his first of two to give Dryden GM a 6-4 win over Fort Frances in Game 1 of the Best-of 7 Semi-Final Wednesday.
Garrett Graham, Jake Gushue, Kris Hamlin and Trey Palermo also found the back of the net.
On the Lakers side, Kenora’s Jack Bernie scored and Hunter Buzzi picked up his first career SIJHL playoff point with an assist.
Dryden GM outshot the Lakers 32-20, with Patrick Zubick earning the win in front of an announced crowd of 574.
Game 2 goes Thursday night at 7:30 at the Memorial Arena.
@mcphail_21 @SIJHL #1 star 2 goals @DrydenGMIceDogs take @SIJHL game 1 semi over @FF_Lakers 6-4
#21 jersey retired pic.twitter.com/qmRsSX4jmw— @ckdrnews (@ckdrnews) March 30, 2017
