Ice Dogs in IHL Final

HOUSTON — The Ice Dogs advanced to the International Hockey League’s Turner Cup final with a 4-2 victory over the Houston Aeros on Thursday, winning the best-of-7 semifinal series, 4-1.

Long Beach, which rallied from a 2-0 first-period deficit, will face the winner of the Detroit-Cleveland semifinal series, which Detroit leads, 2-1.

Stephane Morin, who leads the Ice Dogs with 16 points in the playoffs, Victor Ignatjev and John Byce each had a goal and an assist.

Jozef Cierny scored his team-high eighth goal of the playoffs for the Ice Dogs (11-1 in the postseason).

Goaltender Tom Draper stopped 35 of 37 shots and all six Houston power-play opportunities.