OXBOW - The semifinal matchups have been finalized in the Big Six Hockey League's playoffs.
The fifth-seeded Oxbow Huskies defeated the fourth-ranked Carnduff Red Devils 4-1 on Feb. 11 to take the best-of-five first-round series in four games. Oxbow will now play the top-ranked Redvers Rockets in the semifinal round.
Jayden Davis opened the scoring for Oxbow 7:40 into the first period of Game 4. But Carnduff's Carson Cayer responded 42 seconds later to tie the game. Alex Von Sprecken notched what proved to be the series-winning goal less than a minute after Cayer's goal.
Derek Cooney scored late in the second period for Oxbow and Brycen Odgers rounded out the scoring in the third.
Cody Levesque was in goal for Oxbow and Cody Dumaine was the Carnduff goalie.
The No. 2 Moosomin Rangers will play the No. 3 Carlyle Cougars in the other series. Game dates for the two semifinal series had not been established. The semifinals are best-of-five contests.
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In Hockey Saskatchewan provincial play, the Carlyle Cougars opened their best-of-three senior A south quarter-final series with a 6-5 victory over the visiting Raymore Rockets on Feb. 9.
After a scoreless first period, the Cougars outscored the Rockets 5-1 in the middle frame. Josh Romanyk had three of Carlyle's goals, while Taysen Holt and Zeanan Ziemer also scored.
Ben Johnstone added to the lead in the third with what proved to be the game-winning goal, and then Raymore scored four times in the final 12 minutes to make the game interesting.
Curtis Meger was in goal for Carlyle.
Game 2 is set for Feb. 14 in Raymore, and Game 3, if necessary, would be two days later in Raymore.
In Senior C, the Carnduff Red Devils' quest for a provincial title ended in a south quarter-final in a 5-2 loss at Canora on Feb. 8. Trey Stocker and Ben Hiltz scored for Carnduff; both goals came in the second period. Mason Plews was in goal for Carnduff.
The Oxbow Huskies will begin their provincial push against Assiniboia in a Senior C south semifinal. Game 1 will be Feb. 15 at Assiniboia. Game 2 is set for Feb. 22 in Oxbow, starting at 7:30 p.m., and Game 3, if necessary, would be the following day at 4 p.m., also in Oxbow.
