Edited to show Caps played home games out of Twin Rinks
The St. John’s Caps have played the Clarenville Caribous three times this season and have yet to come away with a win.
But none of the results were blowouts or even close to it — two of them were one-goal decisions — and now the Caps get to take on the Caribous at home.
Sort of.
Game 3 of the best-of-seven Herder Memorial Trophy provincial senior hockey final between St. John’s and Clarenville goes 7:30 tonight at Jack Byrne Arena in Torbay.
That’s normally the home ice for Northeast Eagles, the Caps’ East Coast Senior Hockey League counterparts, but this weekend it will be the base for ECSHL champion St. John’s, which played out of Twin Rinks during the regular season.
The Caribous lead the Herder final 2-0 after 4-3 and 5-2 victories in the opening games of the series last weekend in Clarenville. The teams also squared off in an interlocking game during the regular-season, with the Central West Senior League champion ‘Bous prevailing 3-2 in that one.
Game 4 is Saturday night at JBA and, if necessary, a Game 5 will be played there Sunday.
If sixth and seventh games are required, they will be in Clarenville the following weekend.
The Caribous are seeking their fourth Herder championship in the last decade — they won provincial crowns in 2009, 2010 and 2012. Entries from St. John’s have claimed the trophy 19 times, although 10 of them were St. Bon’s teams in the 1930s and 1940s. Mike’s Shamrocks from St. John’s and the St. John’s Blue Caps were Herder winners in 1978 and 1979, respectively, while the rest of the champions from “Town” carried the St. John’s Capitals designation.
However, no team from the provincial capital has won the Herder since 1990.
Tickets for Games 3 and 4 this weekend are available at the Jack Byrne Arena box office or by phone (709-437-6224). Prices are $20 for reserved seating, $18 for general admission standing and $10 for youths (12-and-under). There is a $1 surcharge per ticket on credit card purchases. Ticket sales for a Game 5 won’t begin until it is confirmed the game will be necessary.
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