Spuds seal spot in Dineen Cup Championships with OT victory at Ogden

OGDEN, Utah — The Idaho Falls Spud Kings clinched the NCDC Mountain Division title, and a spot in the Dineen Cup Championships, with a 2-1 overtime victory over the Mustangs in Ogden, Utah, Saturday night.

The Spuds trailed in five of their first six games of these Dineen Cup playoffs, before taking Game 2 of the Mountain Division Finals in Idaho Falls, Tuesday. After tying the series, 1-1, they went to Ogden with a chance to clench their first ever Dineen Cup Championship berth.

They jumped out to an early lead Friday night, before locking up a 2-1 Game 3 victory.

On Saturday, the Spuds fell into a quick hole once again, when Tommy Fetterman scored to put the Mustangs ahead 23 seconds into Game 4. It didn’t take long for Idaho Falls to equalize, though.

Just over two minutes after the opening goal, Andrew Schmidt found the back of the net for the fifth time this postseason, knotting things at 1-1. The goal was assisted by Bronson Sabol, his fourth point of the playoffs, and Easton Edwards, his fifth.

There things stood, tied at 1-1, for nearly 70 minutes — into a sudden-death overtime period. And at the 10:12 mark of extra time, Leo Mantenuto scored his third goal of the playoffs — and second in as many nights — with another assist from Edwards and a third by William Donovan.

Goalie Charlie Durkin was once again nearly impenetrable, saving 37 of 38 Ogden shots on goal.

The reigning Dineen Cup Champion South Shore Kings have already claimed one of three spots in the championships, beating the Northern Cyclones, 3-1, in the New England Division Finals.

The Atlantic Division Finals will go to a Game 5, with Mercer Chiefs and P.A.L. Junior Islanders tied, 2-2.

A double-elimination tournament to decide this season’s cup champion will begin Friday, April 25.