The Bienfait Coalers scored four times early in the first period, and cruised to an easy 9-1 victory over the Arcola-Kisbey Combines in Game 1 of the Big 6 Hockey League's final.

The final will be a best-of-seven series.

Upcoming games are: Game 2 is slated for March 21 in Arcola, Game 3 is March 22 in Bienfait and Game 4 is the 24th in Arcola.

Game 5, if necessary, would be March 25 in Bienfait, followed by Game 6 March 27 in Arcola. A date hasn't been set for Game 7.

Bienfait, who is seeking their third straight league title, has yet to lose in this year's playoffs. They swept the Carlyle Cougars and the Redvers Rockets in the first two rounds.

Arcola-Kisbey swept the Carnduff Red Devils in the first round, and knocked off the Midale Mustangs in five games in a best-of-five semi-final series. Arcola-Kisbey shut out the Mustangs in the final two games of the series, winning 3-0 on March 13 and 5-0 on March 15.

Midale had been to the final the previous five years.