14-05-2025
Lions Advance To Eastern Conference Finals
The Trois-Rivieres Lions are now one of four teams still standing in the 2025 Kelly Cup Playoffs.
The Lions eliminated the Norfolk Admirals 6-3 Wednesday night at Colisee Videotron to take the North Division Finals series 4-2.
Head coach Ron Choules' squad came out strong in a back-and-forth battle, taking an early lead two minutes into the game when Andrew Coxhead beat Admirals goaltender Thomas Milic top shelf with a wrister from the left-wing circle.
The Admirals responded with two goals of their own to take a brief lead before the end of the opening frame. Connor Fedorek blasted home his first goal this postseason off an offensive zone faceoff to tie things up 1-1. Shortly after, Justin Young redirected a feed from Josh McDougall out front to give Norfolk a 2-1 lead. It was Young's first of the post-season and a key momentum swing for the Admirals.
The Lions regained momentum late in the first period but were unable to capitalize again before the intermission.
The second period saw Trois-Rivières carry their momentum forward with two unanswered goals to retake the lead. Five minutes in, the Lions capitalized on a loose puck in the Admirals' defensive zone as Chris Jandric found the net to tie the game 2-2.
Midway through the frame, Jakov Novak gave Trois-Rivières a 3-2 lead with a shot from the slot, putting the home side back in front.
Norfolk managed to tie the game once more after a puck deflected off Jandric's skate and found its way past Lions goaltender Luke Cavallin.
Nicolas Guay gave the Lions a 4-3 lead early in the third period, beating Milic with a shot over the right shoulder. The Admirals pushed hard in search of the equalizer, generating pressure throughout the frame, but the score held as the clock wound down.
With under two minutes remaining, the Lions extended their lead on a goal from Anthony Beauregard, sealing the game and the series.
Beauregard scored his second of the game on an empty-netter to seal the 6-3 final, ending the Admirals' season.
Trois-Rivières now advances to face the three-time defending Kelly Cup champion Florida Everblades in the Eastern Conference Finals. Game 1 will take place Saturday at Hertz Arena in Estero, with puck drop scheduled for 7 Pm ET.
