Hockey / Ice Dogs win their third Robertson Cup championship

Ice Dogs win their third Robertson Cup championship

Date:  Source: NAHL Fairbanks Ice Dogs

FAIRBANKS - The Ice Dogs captured their third NAHL Robertson Cup Championship today in Minnesota.

The Robertson Cup is the top prize in the 24-team Tier II Junior A league.

The Ice Dogs scored twice in the third period as they beat the Wichita Falls (Texas) Wildcats 2-0 in the North American Hockey League title game on Sunday in Edina, Minnesota.
 
The Ice Dogs were the No. 1 seed in the NAHL playoffs while the Wildcats were the No. 2 seed.
 
Reggie Lutz scored the eventual game-winner at 9:06 of the third period, getting an assist from Clay Cross. The goal was the fifth in the last three days for Lutz, who was name the tournament's MVP.
 
Josef Ingman doubled the lead less than a minute later, with Todd Burgess picking up the assist.
 
Gavin Nieto made 31 saves for his second straight shutout and third of the playoffs.
 
The Wildcats hadn't been shutout all season before Sunday.

The Ice Dogs’ journey to play for this year’s Robertson Cup started in the regular season, which they posted the NAHL’s best record of 49-8-3 for 101 points, a league record for points in the regular-season standings.

The Ice Dogs swept their best-of-three Robertson Cup semifinal series against the East Division regular-season and postseason winner Aston Rebels, defeating the Pennsylvania squad 2-1 Thursday and 3-0 Friday in the Braemer Arena.

It is Fairbanks' third Robertson Cup victory. The Ice Dogs also captured the trophy in 2011 and 2014.

This story will be updated.