The Yorkton Terriers won a pair of Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League games to raise their record to 4-1 for a league-leading .800 winning percentage.
But the Terriers sit second in the Sherwood Conference, two points back of the Melville Millionaires, who have played seven games and sit with a 5-2 record and 10 points.
Kindersley sits tied with Yorkton at eight points, based on a 4-3 record.
Estevan has five points, with Notre Dame and Weyburn both having four points.
The Terriers had a spirited outing at the Farrell Agencies Arena on Saturday.
Jeremy Johnson would start the scoring 3:42 into the game for Yorkton, a goal which would prove the eventual game-winner, as Kale Thomson would turn away all 24-shots he faced for a shut-out.
Dylan Baer and Tayler Thompson would add Terrier goals in the 3-0 win.
"I guess I'm in the right place at the right time for most of them," said Johnson who leads the Terriers with seven goals in five games.
Johnson said it has helped he has clicked well with linemates Nathan Murray and Tyler Giebel.
"A lot of credit goes out to them for the goals," he said.
Thomson, who is coming off Goaltender of the Week honours in week one of the SJHL season, said it felt good to get the shut out.
"It feels pretty good to get the first one of the year. It's nice to get that out of the way," he said. " The guys played really good in front of me. They didn't allow too many good scoring opportunities."
The game saw Nipawin given seven roughing minors, while Yorkton had six.
Each team assessed four fighting majors, with the Hawks taking four game misconducts, and Yorkton three misconducts.
"It was pretty intense. I didn't expect that," said Johnson. " You don't go out looking for a fight, but if you need to stand up for each other, you will."
Watching the intensity from the Terrier nets, Thomson said when two teams play hard "you've got to stand up for each other."
The fisticuffs did leave Thomson standing watching for long periods even as he played for the shut outs.
"I just took it as time to relax a little bit, and try not to think about it too much," he said.
Terrier head coach Trent Cassan said the edge of the game came about as a result of its flow.
"It's our home rink and we've got to play with spirit and energy," he said, adding he can understand the Hawks being a bit feisty as a result of the way the Terriers blanketed them defensively.
"When you're playing good defence and limiting a team's opportunities there's going to be some frustrations."
That said from a Terrier perspective limiting the Hawks chances was a definite positive.
"I think the whole team concept of team defence is something the guys have obviously grasped early on," said Cassan.
"Our defence might not show up on the score sheets," he added. "Maybe they're sacrificing personal; points for the team aspect, which is good to see."
With a strong start to the season, Cassan said the coaching staff must now work to keep the team moving forward.
"It's the challenge of coaching of always working on thing to improve things," he said, adding wins don't always come easily. " Not every day is going to go like this."
A night earlier in Weyburn it was a big night for Johnson who scored the Terriers third goal in the first period, then added a pair in the third period for a hat trick night.
Thompson added a pair, with Kailum Gervais and Dylan Johnson adding singles in the 7-2 win.
Tyler Borstmayer and Ryan Whitell scored the Red Wing goals in the third period.
Barie Conor had his first regular season start in the Terrier nets, facing 35-shots and turning away 33 for the win.
Cassan said Conor had a big night in his SJHL debut.
"The goaltending was very good to allow us a chance," said the Terrier coach, who noted in the first period the Terriers were under siege in Weyburn. He said they expected the Wings to come out hard in their home opener, but at one point were being outshot 12-2 and Conor was holding the fort.
"We were real happy with Conor's effort last night."
Cassan said Johnson is doing what he needs to score.
"He goes to the net He's doing a real good job of that," he said, adding "the puck is kind of following him right now."
Up next
The Terriers were scheduled to play in Estevan last night (Tuesday) but results were not available at press-time.
On Friday, Melville visits the Farrell Agencies Arena for the first tilt in the Highway 10 rivalry this season, with the two teams back in action Saturday in Melville. Flin Flon visits next Tuesday, Oct. 16.
