SWHL Weekly Faceoff: Miners put up fight in overtime game

A light week in the Sask West Hockey League (SWHL) did not disappoint. The Wilkie Outlaws continue to hold first place, with a 4-1 record. The Mohawks of Macklin sit in second with a 3-2 record. The Edam 3 Stars, Kindersley Sr Klippers and Hafford Hawks all sit in a tie in third with a 2-1 record. With a 1-3-1 record, the Biggar Nationals sit in sixth place and the Unity Miners bring up the rear with a 0-3-1 record.

The Unity Miners headed east for a contest against the Biggar Nationals, which the home team came away with a 5-4 overtime victory on Dec. 6.

In the first period, it was all Miners as Daniel Hilsendager and David Dziurzynski scored to give the visitors the 2-0 lead. The Nats woke up in the middle frame though, with Keaton Haynes, Brett Novak and Taylor Bucsis all scoring, giving Biggar the 3-2 lead. Jared Risling’s first goal of the year would tie the game back up, but Tommy Ehry’s first as a National reinstated them with the lead after 40 minutes. Dziurzynski would add his second of the night to tie the game back up at five, which meant free hockey at the Jube. With 1:36 left in the 5-minute extra frame, Bucsis would score to send the home fans away happy.

Brett Vanderveer took the tough luck overtime loss, stopping 47 of 52 shots, while Brett Matlock stopped 35 of 39 shots for the win.

The next night, the Kindersley Sr. Klippers welcomed the Macklin Mohawks into the West Central Events Centre, with the Klippers coming away with the 3-1 victory.

Jaxon Georget opened the scoring early in the first period, which held all the way into the early stages of the middle frame, with Shayne Neigum extending the lead to 2-0. Jared Hillis would cut the lead to 2-1, but Neigum would add his second of the night to seal the win. No scoring was reported in the third.

Trevor Martin took the loss, stopping 47 of 50 shots, while Logan Drackett stopped 42 of 43 shots for the win.

A big slate of games is scheduled for the upcoming week. Hafford welcomes Edam in the Hawks home opener (pending weather) on Dec. 13 at 8:30 p.m. On Dec. 14, Wilkie hosts Unity, Biggar travels to Macklin, and Edam hosts Kindersley in the 3 Stars home opener (pending weather). All Saturday games are at 8 p.m. On Dec. 15, Kindersley hosts Biggar at a 7 p.m. start.