Coventry Blaze beat Aberdeen Lynx 5-3 in the second semi-final at the Ice Hockey UK U20 National Finals in Dumfries.
It means the Blaze will meet Fife Falcons – who beat Kingston Sharks – in tomorrow’s final at the Dumfries Ice Bowl.
Austin Mitchell-King put Coventry ahead at 6:25, before Cameron Chalmers equalised a little over three minutes later (9:54).
After Blaze had a goal washed out after the buzzer had already sounded at the end of the first period, they took control of the game in the second session with three unanswered goals.
Kyle Nash’s bullet from the blueline (22:18) was followed by a one-timer from the slot by captain Arthur Brookes to make it 3-1 to Coventry.
A redirect from Dylan Harris at 34:15 ensured the Blaze had a 4-1 second-period lead.
Just as it looked as though the Blaze had the game in the bag, Aberdeen scored twice in three minutes.
JJ Beattie closed the gap at 52:19 and Macauley Armstrong’s powerplay strike made it a one-goal game at 55:16.
Nash’s scored his second of the night with an empty-net goal in the closing moments to set up a final showdown with Fife.
Blaze coach, Sean Alderson, said: “We didn’t get the job as easy as we should have done.
“We did not start well first period and had to settle down.
“We were good in the second period but in the third I thought some guys switched off.
“We made harder work of it and had to rely on an empty-net goal at the end, but we’ve rolled the bench today and given everyone ice-time.
“Hopefully that will be good for tomorrow with guys a little more rested today.”
Player of the game
Coventry: Austin Mitchell-King
Aberdeen: Liam Lloyd
Photo credit: Mark Paterson.