The Notre Dame Hounds have punched their ticket to the SJHL quarterfinals, after picking up a 5-2 win over the Melfort Mustangs Tuesday night. The win clinched the best-of-five survivor series in four games for the Hounds, who will now move on to play the Flin Flon Bombers, who finished first in the Sherwood Division and second overall.

The Hounds opened the scoring in the opening period with two quick goals, as Chance Longjohn and rookie Jared Hamm found the back of the net. Melfort jumped back into the game just three minutes into the second period, when Miles Warkentine scored his first of the postseason, but it became all Notre Dame for the rest of the period. Chaz Smedsrud scored his third of the playoffs, while Marshall Wilton added a goal, and Longjohn netted his second of the game.

Melfort did pull within one when Carson Albrecht scored late in the third period, but it would prove to be too little too late. The Hounds held off the Mustangs to secure the win.

With the Notre Dame victory, the field is now set for the quarterfinals. The Hounds will open their series with the Bombers Friday in Flin Flon. The Weyburn Red Wings will travel up to The Battlefords to face the North Stars Friday. Estevan hosts the Yorkton Terriers for the first game of that best-of-seven, and the Nipawin Hawks entertain the Humboldt Broncos.