REDVERS - For the first time since 2004, the Moosomin Rangers are the Big Six Hockey League's champions.
The Rangers defeated the Redvers Rockets 5-3 on Monday night in Redvers to win the best-of-five league final in three straight games. The win also avenged last year's league final, in which Redvers swept Moosomin in three straight.
Game 3 was tied at 1-1 after the first period and 3-3 after two. Kenton Miller (Redvers) and Bud Holloway (Moosomin) scored in the first period.
Ryker Cole tallied for Moosomin 12 seconds into the second, but Bradey Fidierchuk replied for Redvers. Carter Sawchuk restored Moosomin's advantage, but Koltyn Miller tied the game again for Redvers.
Josh Elmes' power-play goal with 5 1/2 minutes to play in the third period proved to be the winning goal, and in the final minute, Cole added his second of the game into an empty net to clinch Moosomin's title.
Kyler Beckett was in goal for Moosomin, while Cody Matthewson was Redvers' netminder.
Moosomin won Game 1 3-2 on March 15, and took Game 2 4-3 in overtime on March 21.
Game 2 was scoreless after the first period. Daylin Smallchild scored to give Redvers a 1-0 lead. Elmes tied the game for Moosomin, but Kenton Miller scored to restore the Rockets' advantage. All three goals came in the opening four minutes of the middle frame.
Monty Driver tied the game for Moosomin early in the third. It remained a 2-2 game until Presten Kopeck scored for Redvers with 3:52 to play in the third, but Holloway tied the game again 81 seconds later.
Drew Schiller notched the winner for Moosomin 29 seconds into overtime.
Beckett and Matthewson were also in goal for Game 2.
Moosomin rejoined the Big Six in 2021 after the Rangers' previous loop, the Triangle League, folded.
While the Big Six season is over, the Rockets' season is ongoing, as they are facing Macklin in the Hockey Saskatchewan Senior D final. Macklin took Game 1 4-3 in overtime on Saturday night in Macklin.
Drew Hoff, Potapinski and Koltyn Miller scored for Redvers. Thomas Bauche was in goal.
Game 2 will be March 30 in Redvers at 7 p.m. Game 3, if necessary, would be the following day, also in Redvers, starting at 3 p.m.
