SOUTHEAST SASKATCHEWAN - The second-ranked Moosomin Rangers have taken the early lead in their best-of-five Big Six Hockey League semifinal series with the No. 3 Carlyle Cougars.
Moosomin scored four times in the second period to defeat the Cougars 7-5 on Feb. 22 in Moosomin.
The game was tied at 2-2 at one point in the first period, with Riley Niven and Josh Romanyk scoring for Carlyle and Bud Holloway and Taylor Sanheim responding for Moosomin. Holloway added his second of the game before the first period was finished, and then Ryker Cole, Monty Driver, Brayden Holloway and Dustin Fisher scored for the Rangers. Bud Holloway added three assists for a five-point game.
Romanyk, Taysen Holt and Brett Turgeon had Carlyle's other goals.
Curtis Meger (Carlyle) and Kyler Beckett were the goalies.
Game 2 is slated for March 1 in Carlyle, and Game 3 is the following day in Moosomin. Game 4 would be March 5 in Carlyle and Game 5 would be March 8 in Moosomin.
In the other semifinal series, the top-ranked Redvers Rockets took a 2-0 series lead with a 7-2 win over the No. 5 Oxbow Huskies on Feb. 19.
The Huskies had a 2-0 lead at one point in the first period on goals by Cody Davis and Jordan Cooney. Daylin Smallchild scored before the period was out, and then Naton Miller scored once, and Presten Kopeck and Olivier Poirier each scored twice to finish the offensive onslaught in the middle frame.
Jordon Miller scored for Redvers in the third.
Thomas Bauche was in goal for Redvers, while Cody Levesque was the Oxbow goalie.
The Rockets can wrap up the series with a win in Game 3 on Feb. 25 in Redvers. Game 4 would be March 4 in Oxbow and Game 5 would be March 6 in Redvers.
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In provincial play, Redvers took a 1-0 series lead in the Senior D south semifinal series by defeating Milestone 7-3 on Feb. 21 in Redvers.
Jordon Miller scored twice for Redvers. Kelsey Kenler, Kenton Miller, Troy Hamilton, Oliver Poirier and Drew Hoff also scored.
Bauche was in goal.
Game 2 will be Feb. 28 in Milestone and Game 3, if necessary, would be March 2 in Redvers.
The Huskies' provincial run came to and end in a 6-3 loss to Assiniboia on Feb. 22. Assiniboia swept the senior C series in two straight. Brycen Odgers, Davis and Tayce Miller scored for Oxbow. Cody Levesque was Oxbow's goalie.
The Rangers will start playing in senior B provincials in the south final against Langenburg. Game 1 is Feb. 28 at Langenburg, Game 2 is March 7 at Moosomin, and Game 3, if necessary, would be two nights later at Langenburg.
