The Big Six Hockey League opened its 2021-22 season on Friday night with three games.
The Oxbow Huskies made a triumphant return to the league with a 3-2 victory over the Carlyle Cougars in Oxbow’s first game since the 2018-19 season. Also, the Moosomin Rangers trounced the Midale Mustangs 11-2 in Moosomin’s first game in the league in more than 15 seasons, and the Redvers Rockets beat the Bienfait Coalers 5-4.
Liam Rutten scored his second of the game with 9:58 to play in the third period to lift the Huskies to the win over the Cougars. Brycen Odgers had the Huskies’ other goal, scoring less than 90 seconds before Rutten’s game-winner.
Derek Fleck and Jon Gaudet had the goals for Carlyle.
Cody Levesque was the goalie for the Huskies, while Ryan Kulyk was in goal for Carlyle.
In the game between Redvers and Bienfait, Drew Hoff had two goals and an assist for the Rockets, and Presten Kopeck added three helpers.
Tie Braun, Daylin Smallchild and Bradey Fidierchuk also scored for Redvers.
Dylan Herzberg, Dallas Kickley, Kaelan Holt and Wyatt Garagan scored for Bienfait.
Thomas Bauche was the goalie for Redvers, while Zack Miller was in goal for the Coalers.
Moosomin scored seven times in the second period to blow open a 2-2 game against Midale.
Monty Driver had a hat trick for Moosomin, while Bud Holloway and Brayden Nabholz (two goals and an assist each) and Brayden Holloway (three assists) also had three-point games. Jody Boutin, Kye McGonigal, Jevon Schwean and Paul Stapleton had Moosomin’s other goals.
Kendall Oliver and Steven Lindenbach had the goals for Midale.
Kyler Beckett picked up the win in goal for the Rangers, while Talen King was the goalie for Midale.
Saturday’s games on the schedule are Midale at the Yellow Grass Wheat Kings, and Oxbow at the Carnduff Red Devils. Both games have 8 p.m. start times.
Bienfait is slated to visit Carnduff Sunday at 7 p.m.
The Big Six has nine teams this season. The Wawota Flyers are the only team that isn’t scheduled to play this weekend.
Each team will play 16 games. The regular season is slated to end in early February.
