Keith Miller Cup Finals - 2019

Muhammad Ali & Joe Frazier. Arturo Gatti and Mickey Ward. Ric Flair and Ricky "the Dragon" Steamboat. In the sports world, great battles often come in threes. After CKG Elevator edged AC Doors in the inaugural Keith Miller Cup in 2017, AC Doors was able to exact revenge in 2018 when it edged CKG en route to capturing its first league title (both series went the distance), setting up a clash of two EHJGHL titans in this year's final. And boy, did the series live up to its advance billing.

CKG took game one on March 31, coming out on the right side of a see-saw battle, 6-5. With its season on the line, AC Doors responded in game 2, holding on for a 4-2 win sealed by a late empty-netter, setting up a Game 3 for the Keith Miller Cup for the third year in a row between the two teams.

After a scoreless first period where Ricky Jones and Jacob Fancy traded countless impressive saves, AC Doors would strike first, with Andrew Wiggington getting the scoring started early in the second period. Rene George followed up with a goal of his own less than thirty seconds later, doubling the AC Doors lead. Shane O'Neil would then convert a feed from Conor Fudge, giving the defending champions a 3-0 lead, looking firmly in the driver's seat. CKG, however, did not throw in the towel and its roster, deep in playoff experience, began to claw its way back. First, Jay Duffy put a shot past Jones, getting CKG on the board. Shayne Gillis followed with a goal a few minutes later, cutting the lead to one. Former Shooters Bar and Grill standout Connor Hilton - acquired in a questionable cash considerations trade prior to the commencement of the 2018-2019 season - drew CKG even after cashing in on a power play, tying the game 3-3 heading into the second intermission.

AC Doors would begin the third period on the power play after a penalty by CKG late in the second period, and Conor Fudge would take advantage, redirecting a shot and restoring the lead for AC Doors. Fudge would add his second of the game on the following shift, capitalizing on a quick transition and giving AC Doors a 5-3 with less than ten minutes remaining in the third. Again, CKG refused to quit, with Hilton depositing his second power play off the game, deflecting off of an AC Doors defender. After AC Doors killed off a late penalty, CKG continued to press for the equalizer, pulling Fancy for the extra attacker. With 0:34 remaining, Hilton one-timed a feed from Duffy, tying the game 5-5 and sending it to overtime. The teams played a ten-minute 5-on-5 overtime period without finding a winner.

In double overtime, the teams played 4-on-4. Halfway through the second overtime period, CKG carried the play and looked to win it after a sharp angle shot from Jeff McNeil looked to find its way behind Jones, emptying the CKG bench. However, the lead official had lost sight of the puck, requiring a discussion amongst the two referees. After a brief conference, with both teams holding their breath, the goal was waved off, requiring the teams to gather themselves and refocus. The following shift, playoff MVP George -  who exploded for 13 goals and 15 assists in only eight playoff games - picked off an errant partner pass at the CKG blueline and dashed in a breakaway on the CKG netminder, finding the back of the net and sending the raucous crowd into a frenzy.