Sask West This Week, Nov 9
BY PHIL HEILMAN
The Sask West Hockey League (SWHL) wrapped up week two of league play and to the surprise of no one, the Wilkie Outlaws lead the league with a 3-0 record as of Nov. 5th.
The Kindersley Sr Klippers (2-0) and the Edam 3 Stars (1-0) are the only other undefeated teams, followed by the 1-2 Hafford Hawks. The Biggar Nationals (0-2), Macklin Mohawks (0-2), and the Biggar Nationals (0-1) round out the standings as of Nov. 5th. On Saturday night, the Biggar Nationals welcomed the Wilkie Outlaws into ‘The Jube’ and once again it was the away team leaving with a 2-1 win
Andrew Herle and Rory Gregoire scored in the first, while Chris Henry scored in the second for the Nationals. Goaltenders Curtis Sander and Brett Matlock stole the show in the low shot, low scoring affair. The Edam 3 Stars took the long trek south to Macklin to visit the Mohawks at home on Saturday night and left with a 3-1 win. The home town team held a 1-0 lead after one period thanks to Spencer Bast. Kendall Fransoo scored in the second period for the 3 Stars and after two periods it was knotted at 1. Joel Blaquiere scored the game winner 11:27 into the third period and Cody Danberg added the insurance marker late in the frame to secure the victory. The Klippers hosted the Miners Friday night at the Unity Community Centre and it was the away team leaving with the 6-2 win.
Kindersley lead 2-1 after the first off goals from Trey Tuffs and Tyler Traptow, and 4-2 after two periods thanks to goals from Shayne Neigum and Carson Grolla. Neigum and Troy Boisjoli added insurance in what turned out to be a very feisty third period. Taylor Bucsis and Davis Chorney scored for the home town Miners. Hafford Hawks won a back and forth affair at the Jubilee Stadium over the Biggar Nationals 6-5 on Friday night. The visitors lead 4-1 after the first frame, and 4-2 after two periods. Kobe Kindrachuk (1-2-3) and Kyle Ireland (0-3-3) lead the scoring for Hafford, while Brett Novak, Johnny Redlich and Chris Henry also had 3 points each for the home squad Jeremy Boyer scored the game winner with 5:43 left in the third. Kyle Litchenwald (2), Kindrachuk (2), and Andrew Galambos rounded out the scoring for Hafford
Jordan Unger, Novak, Redlich (2), and Ryan Novacosky responded for the Nationals. The Outlaws headed to the Credit Union Legacy Centre on Friday night to face last years Finalist Macklin Mohawks and leaving with a 8-5 win. Once again, it was the Mohawks who held a 2-1 lead after 1 period thanks to Foster Steinhubel and Spencer Bast, with Rory Gregoire firing back for the out of towners. Wilkie came out firing on all 10 cylinders in the second period, scoring six goals. Rick Cey lead the barrage with a hat-trick, while Gregoire and Brock Harrison also potting goals. Cody McKinnon score both of the Macklin goals in the frame.
Brett Boehm’s first as an Outlaw and the Mohawks’ Jared Hillis rounded out the scoring. Brett Harrison (1-6-7) and Rory Gregoire (3-3-6) lead the defending champions in scoring for the evening. It is worthy to note that very early on in the 23/24 season, the home team is only 2-5. Five games are set for the weekend of November 10th-12th; Edam vs Wilkie & Kindersley vs Biggar on Friday, Hafford vs Kindersley & Edam vs Unity on Saturday, and Biggar Vs Wilkie on Sunday. All times and the rest of the schedule can be found of the SWHL website.