A busy weekend in the Sask West Hockey League (SWHL), and with it came some tightening up in the standings. The Wilkie Outlaws sit on top with a 5-1 record, followed by the Kindersley Sr Klippers with a 4-1 record and the Macklin Mohawks at 4-2. The Hafford Hawks sit in fourth with a 3-1 record. The Edam 3 Stars hold fifth with a 2-3 record, with the Biggar Nationals with a 1-5-1 record. In the rear is the Unity Miners with a 0-4-1 record.
The Biggar Nationals travelled south to Kindersley for a matchup against the Klippers, with the Klippers coming away with the 6-3 win on Dec. 15.
Troy Boisjoli fired the only goal of the opening frame, giving Kindersley the 1-0 after 20 minutes. Carson Grolla (on the power play) and Shayne Neigum extended that lead to 3-0 before Taylor Bucsis and Brett Novak responded to cut the lead to 3-2. The Klippers came out flying in the third, with Boisjoli, Brody Ryberg and Tyler Traptow all scoring and extending the lead to 6-2. Dallon Becotte of the Nats would round out scoring.
Brett Matlock took the loss, stopping 48 of 54 shots, while Logan Drackett took the win, stopping 22 of 25 shots.
On Dec. 14, the Unity Miners travelled east to Wilkie to play the Outlaws, with Wilkie coming away with the big 9-2 win.
Ryne Keller opened the scoring just four minutes into the game and followed it up with his second of the night and the year just four minutes later. Rory Gregoire would add to the lead with his second of the year before Davis Chorny would score to cut the lead to 3-1. Rick Cey would also score to extend the lead to 4-1. It was all Outlaws in the middle frame as Rob Cey, Kyler Lorenz, Will Rathje and Brett Schell would all score, giving Wilkie the commanding 8-1 lead after 40 minutes. Brayden Schultz and Blake Young would trade goals in the third to tie a bow on things.
Brett Vanderveer took the loss, stopping 27 of 36 shots, while Jared Herle took the win, stopping 20 of 21 shots in two periods of action. Curtis Sander came in for the third, stopping 11 of 12 shots.
Also on Dec. 14, the Edam 3 stars hosted the Kindersley Sr Klippers, with the Klippers coming away with a 5-3 win.
Brent Weber would give the home team the early 1-0 lead, but Brody Ryberg would reply on the power play. Trayton Troesch would give Edam the 2-1 lead, however Gage Misskey would tie it right back up at two, which is how it stood after 20 minutes. The Klippers took over in the second, with Dylan Georget and Shayne Neigum would give Kindersley the 4-2 lead. Georget and Josh LaClare traded goals in the third period to round out scoring.
Logan Drackett secured the win, stopping 46 of 49 shots, while Taryn Kotchorek took the loss, stopping 40 of 45 shots.
The third game on Dec. 14 was the Biggar Nationals heading west to play the Macklin Mohawks, with the home team coming away with the 5-3 victory.
Hunter Steinhubel and Jonathan Redlick would trade goals in the opening frame for a 1-1 tie. Tyler Kunz and Carson Pickett would score in the second to give Macklin the 3-1 lead after 40 minutes. Hunter would score to add to the lead, but Taylor Bucsis would cut the lead down to 4-2. Hunter then would get his hattrick goal to once again get the 3-goal lead. Redlick scored his eighth of the year to round out scoring.
Josh Hawkins took the loss, stopping 36 of 41 shots, while Trevor Martin secured the win, stopping 34 of 37 shots
On Dec. 13, the Hafford Hawks hosted the Edam 3 Stars, with the hometown team coming away with the 4-1 victory.
Paul Cubbon opened the scoring at the 12:13 mark of the first period, in the only marker of the opening frame. Scoring was quiet until the early stages of the third, when Kyle Ireland fired his first of the year to double the lead. Quinton Cubbon extended the lead to 3-0, but Trayton Troesch cut the deficit down to 3-1. Kyle Litchenwald would add the icing to the victory with his third of the year.
Taryn Kotchorek took the loss, stopping 42 of 46 shots, while Joel Gryzbowski took the win, stopping 28 of 29 shots.
Five games are on the docket for the weekend before the holiday season. Three games on Dec. 20 as Wilkie hosts Macklin at 8 p.m., Unity hosting Kindersley and Biggar travelling to Hafford, both at 8:30 p.m. Dec. 22 sees two games with Kindersley hosting Hafford at 4 p.m. and Macklin hosting Wilkie at 5:30 p.m.
