Playoffs have started in the Sask West Hockey League (SWHL), with all three series beginning this weekend. The five-seed Macklin Mohawks and four-seed Edam 3 Stars started their best-of-five series in Edam, with the home team winning 2-1 on Jan. 30.
Carson Pickett scored the lone goal of the first period, with the crowd needing to wait until the 15:24 mark of the second period for a goal of their own. That goal came off the stick of SWHL scoring champion Keegan Tiringer, with Tiringer scoring again in the third (on the power play). His second of the night turned out to be the game-winner.
Trevor Martin took the loss stopping 33 of 35 shots, while Taryn Kotchorek stopped 25 of 26 shots in the win.
In Game 2 of the series in Macklin on Feb. 1, a very late surge gave the 3 Stars a 6-3 win
Tyler Robertson (on the power play) and Cody Danberg traded goals in the opening frame. Connor Managre would give Edam the 2-1 lead, but Spencer Bast and Cody McKinnon would score to give Macklin the 3-2 lead. Danberg would tie the game up at three after 40 minutes. The game would stay tied until the 1:40 mark, with Danberg’s hattrick goal giving Edam the 4-3 lead. Two shorthanded & empty net goals from Jordan Fransoo and Joel Blaquiere sealed the victory.
Taryn Kotchorek secured the win, stopping 29 of 32 shots, while Trevor Martin stopped 26 of 30 shots in the loss.
In Game 3 on Feb. 2, Macklin and Edam would lock horns again, with Edam completing the sweep with a 3-2 win. Tyler Robertson and Tyler Baier (on the power play) scored in the first to give Macklin the 2- 0 lead. That held to the third period where Brady Deobald and Jared Blaquiere would score within a minute of each other to tie it up at two. Joel Blaquiere would score at the 10:43 mark to take the 3-2 lead, which ended up being the game-winner.
Trevor Martin stopped 39 of 42 shots in the loss, while Taryn Kotchorek secured the win, stopping 22 of 24 shots.
The three-seed Kindersley Klippers and sixth-seed Biggar Nationals fired up their best-of-5 series in Kindersley, with the Klippers taking the 4-2 victory on Jan. 31.
Markus Boguslavsky opened the scoring at the midpoint of the first period. This 1-0 lead held until the 15:58 mark of the middle frame, thanks to Taylor Bucsis’ power play goal. The game would stay tied until the third period. Shayne Neigum would score twice within three minutes, once on the power play to give Kindersley the 3-1 lead. Ryan Novacosky would cut the lead to 3-2, but a Jonny Calkins empty net goal would secure the win.
Brett Matlock took the loss, stopping 42 of 45 shots, while Logan Drackett stopped 31 of 33 shots in the win.
In Game 2 of the series, Biggar took it on the chin in an 8-3 loss to the same Klippers. Kindersley leads the series 2-0.
Shayne Neigum and Markus Boguslavsky each scored for a 2-0 Klippers lead after 20 minutes. The visiting scoring parade continued into the second period, with Aiden Bangs and Jaxon Georget giving the Klippers the 4-0 lead before Brett Novak cut the lead to 4-1. Damon McKenzie and Jared Erickson extended the lead up to 6-1 after 40 minutes. Carson Grolla would score on the power play for a 7-1 lead. Novak and Taylor Bucsis would cut the deficit to 7-3. Kyle Donaldson would round out the scoring.
Logan Drackett stopped 27 of 30 shots for the win, while Brett Matlock stopped 43 of 51 shots in the loss.
The two-seed Wilkie Outlaws and seven-seed Unity Miners kicked off their best-of-5 series Feb. 2, with the Outlaws blowing them out 15-2. Rory Gregoire, Derek Keller, Brett Boehm, Mitch Suchan, Mike Sittler, and Ryan Keller (2) all scored for a commanding 7-0 lead after the first period. Rick Cey, Brock Harrison and Brett Schell would score for a 10-0 lead before Colby Ralston would break up the shutout. Carter Acton would score after that to cut the lead to 10-2. Ryan Keller’s third of the night would open the lead back up to nine after 40 minutes. The former Grand Rapids Griffin would add his fourth of the evening, with Suchan, Harrison and Rick Cey piling on for the convincing win.
Ryan Rewerts stopped two of six shots in 5:26 of playing time for the loss. Brett Vanderveer took over, stopping 39 of 50 shots in 54:34 of playing time. Jared Herle stopped 30 of 32 shots in the win.
Game 2 of this matchup was played Feb. 4 night; stats were unavailable at the time of publishing.
In the Senior ‘C’ Bracket, the Wilkie Outlaws hosted a shorthanded Outlook Ice Hawks squad from the Sask Valley Hockey League in Game 1 of their best-of-3 North quarter-final. The Outlaws won 14-3. Check the SWHL website for playoff and provincial updates.
