A busy weekend in the Sask West Hockey League (SWHL) completed week 8 of its schedule and it is still the Wilkie Outlaws leading the league with an 8-0 record. The pesky Biggar Nationals sit at second place with a 6-4-1 record, while the Kindersley Sr Klipper (6-3) and the Hafford Hawks (6-4) are tied for third. The Macklin Mohawks (4-4-1), Edam 3 Stars (2-4-1) and the Unity Miners (0-9-1) round out the standings as of December 18th.
The Sunday nighter at the Credit Union Legacy Centre pitted the hometown Macklin Mohawks agaimst the Biggar Nationals and in an very back and forth affair, it was the Nats coming out on top in overtime 6-5.
Brett Novak opened the scoring early in the first, but Spencer Bast replied just five minutes later. Three minutes after that, and on the power play, Jonathon Redlich scored his 13th goal on the year to give the Nats the 2-1 lead. Once again, the Mohawks tied it up off the stick of Corey Doetzel. The teams went to the locker room tied at 2-2 after 20 minutes.
Five minutes into the middle frame, Tyler Baier fired a shot into the twine, but on cue, and again on the power play, Redlich scored to tie it back up at 3. Just before the eleven minute mark, Chris Henry scored, which gave the Nats the 4-3 lead after two periods.
In the third, Cody McKinnon scored two goals in just 14 seconds to retrieve the lead back. It took until the last minute before the Nats were able to tie it up as Chris Henry scored, sending it into overtime.
In the extra frame, amongst a furry a shots from both teams, it was Biggar again waiting until the last moment. ryan Novacosky scored with just two seconds left to secure the victory for the away squad.
Brett Matlock stopped 54 of 59 shots in the OT Win, while Owen Bosch stopped 29 of 35 shots in the tough luck OTL.
On Saturday night, The Macklin Mohawks hosted the league leading Wilkie Outlaws and in a close contest, it was the Outlaws coming home with a 4-3 win.
Blake Young scored early into the game, while Rick Cey book ended the period with a power play goal, giving the visitors a 2-0 lead after 20 minutes. In the 2nd, Brett Boehm's 4th of the year extended the lead to 3-0 before Cody McKinnon broke the goose egg on the power play. Brock Harrison answered back on the power play to make it 4-1, but Spencer Bast would score to cut the lead to 4-2 after 2 periods. Carson Pickett scored midway thru the 3rd period, but it wasnt quite enough to complete the comeback.
Jared Herle earned the win stopping 21 of 24 shots, while Trevor Martin took the loss stopping 33 of 37 shots.
At the Turtleford Arena, the Edam 3 Stars welcomed the Kindersley Sr Klippers and in another close game, the Klippers left with a 2-1 win.
Neither team found the score board in the 1st, but to make up for that they filled up the penalty portion of the game sheet. In the second period, it took almost seven minutes before Kyle Donaldson finally found net, and Brody Ryberg followed suite on the power play three minutes later for a 2-0 lead after 40 minutes. In the final frame, Kendall Fransoo fired his 2nd of the year from the point on the power play early, but it was all the 3 Stars could muster scoring wise.
Logan Drackett notched the W stopping 25 of 26 shots. Tayrn Kotchorek took the tough loss stopping 34 of 36 shots.
The Unity Miners travelled north to the Don Ross Arena in North Battleford to play the Hafford Hawks and it was the Hawks who left with a 4-1 win.
Kyle Ireland's 7th of the year opened the scoring, giving the Hawks the 1-0 after one period. In the 2nd, Estyn Hyman scored on the power play, leading his team to the locker room up 2-0. Just 37 seconds into the 3rd, Colby Ralston scored to cut the deficit to 2-1, and despite the hard working effort from the Miners, it wasnt quite enough as Kyle Litchenwald and Brandon Lekso scored to seal the victory.
Ryan Rewerts took the loss stopping 41 of 45 shots, while Chase Honan stopped 22 of 23 shots for the W.
In the first regular season SWHL game ever played at the Don Ross Arena, the Hafford Hawks hosted the Kindersley Sr Klippers on Friday night, and it was the Hawks walking away with a 6-1 win.
In a slower paced first, Brandon Lesko scored on the power play, but a defensive breakout let Kyle Donaldson all alone to tie the game up at 1 after 20 minutes. The Hawks continued the onslaught in the middle frame, having it finally pay off as Kyle Litchenwald, Scott Thompson and Jorden Braid scored in a 4 minute span. Kayden Tocher also scored with little time left, giving Hafford a big 5-1 lead after 2 periods. Ireland's second of the night in the 3rd put the icing on the win for the Hawks.
Cody Beswitherick took the loss, stopping 33 of 39 shots while Joel Gryzbowski stopped 25 of 26 shots for the win.
The Biggar Nationals hosted the Unity Miners Friday night, and it was the home team scoring the 7-4 victory.
Colby Ralston and Brayden Schultz scored 30 seconds apart in the later stages on the first, but just two minutes later, Jonnathon Redlich and Brett Novak scored just 20 seconds apart to tie the game at 2 after 20 minutes. The scoring barrage continues as Redlich scored just four minutes into the middle frame. It took ten more minutes for scoring to happen with Hunter Sperle to tie it up at 3. but two goals for Wyatt Versluis in a 3 minute span gave the Nats a 5-3 lead. Redlich made the hats rain after that and the Nats took their 6-3 lead into the final frame. Mikkel Olson and Lyndon Jellison traded goals in the third to reach the final score.
Ryan Rewerts stopped 36 of 43 shots in the loss, Brett Matlock stopped 29 of 33 shots for the win.
The Hafford Hawks are on an impressive 5 game heater, scoring 28 goals in that span and only giving up 2 goals in 2 of the 5 games. The line of Jeremy Boyer, Jorden Braid and Kyle Ireland have been outworldly great and their team defense has been sparkling.
Four games on the docket in the upcoming week as Hafford visits Edam at the Turtleford Arena on Thursday, Wilkie heads south to Kindersley and Unity hosts Macklin on Friday, and Edam visits Wilkie on Saturday.
