Sask West This Week: Close up the Honky Tonks
By Phil Heilman
League
In Game 2 of the SWHL Finals, the Wilkie Outlaws headed north to Edam for a Tuesday night matchup against the 3 Stars. Wilkie left with the 3-2 OT victory.
President Vaughn Bibordorf (left) and VP Al Neufeld (right) present Jared Herle with the SWHL playoff MVP award. PHOTO BY PHIL HEILMAN
Bibordorf and Neufeld present Outlaws’ captain Ryne Keller with the SWHL trophy. PHOTO BY PHIL HEILMAN
The Wilkie Outlaws are the 2025 Sask West Hockey League champions! PHOTO BY PHIL HEILMAN
Brady Deobald opened the scoring for the home side early, and later in the first, Keegan Tiringer found the loose puck for the big 2-0 lead. Before the period expired, Mike Sittler would score to cut the lead to 2-1 after 20 minutes. The lone goal of the 2nd came off the stick of Rick Cey, tying the game just past the midway point of the middle frame. The game would remain tied until overtime, where the Skipper (Derek Keller) would send the everyone home.
Jared Herle stopped 32 of 34 shots in the win, while Taryn Kotchorek stopped 33 of 36 shots in the OTL.
The trophy was in the building Thursday night for Game 3, where Wilkie was looking for the sweep on home ice, while Edam was looking to extend the series. The Outlaws delivered a solid performance in a 5-3 victory.
Rick Cey’s 7th of the playoffs (on the power play) opened the scoring. That 1-0 lead held until the 2nd, where Brett Boehm and Brett Schell would extend that lead to 3-0 after 40 minutes. Ryan Keller and Rory Gregoire would tack one each on for a 5-0 before Edam attempted to mount a comeback. Brady Deobald, Keegan Tiringer and Joel Blaquiere all scored in a 9-minute span, but it just wasn't enough.
Taryn Kotchorek stopped 43 of 48 shots in the loss, while Jared Herle stopped 30 of 33 shots in the win.
Herle was named SWHL playoff MVP.
Provincials
In Senior ‘C’, the Wilkie Outlaws welcomed the Foam Lake Flyers for game 2 of the Provincial final, but it was Deja vu as the Flyers won in OT 7-6, winning their first provincial title in their 77-year history.
In Senior ‘D’, the Edam 3 Stars hit the road for the 700 plus kilometre journey to Redvers for their game 1 against the Rockets. Redvers won 5-3.