SOUTHEAST SASKATCHEWAN - The Big Six Hockey League opened its milestone 65th season on the weekend with five games.
The Redvers Rockets began the campaign with a 4-1 victory over the Carnduff Red Devils Friday night. The Rockets lifted their 2022-23 Big Six champions banner to the arena's rafters, and then knocked off the 2021-22 champions.
Kenton Miller and Presten Kopeck scored in the first period for Redvers. Matthew Plews' goal in the second pulled Carnduff to within one, but Oliver Poirier restored the Rockets' lead before the period was out. Kopeck rounded out the scoring in the third with his second of the game.
Thomas Bauche was in goal for Redvers and Cody Dumaine was the Carnduff goalie.
Also on Friday night, the Carlyle Cougars knocked off the Midale Mustangs 7-2. Josh Romanyk, Nikita Kovalenko, Jon Gaudet and Brett Turgeon scored in the first period for Carlyle, and Ben Johnstone and Koby Morrisseau had goals in the second to put the Cougars up by six. Morrisseau had his second of the game in the third, and added two assists for a four-point game.
Jordan Bechtold and Steven Lindenbach scored for Midale.
Landon Audet (Carlyle) and Talen King (Midale) were the goalies.
The Moosomin Rangers routed the Oxbow Huskies 11-3 in Friday's other game. The Rangers scored four times in the second and five times in the third to take over what was a 2-2 game.
Bud Holloway and Carter Sawchuk each had two goals and three assists for the Rangers, while Brock Trotter had a goal and three helpers. Jaxon Elmes, Ryker Cole, Brayden Nabholz, Monty Driver, Drayson Skulmoski and Dylan Ushkowski had the other Moosomin goals.
Cody Davis, Alex Von Sprecken and Derek Cooney scored for Oxbow.
Kyler Beckett was in goal for Moosomin, while Cody Levesque and Drew Fenwick shared the Oxbow goaltending duties.
The Bienfait Coalers defeated the Mustangs 9-5 on Saturday night. Bienfait scored twice late in the second period and added two in the third to take over a 4-4 game.
Kaelan Holt had two goals for Bienfait, while Wyatt Garagan, Jason Hengen, Carson Cayer, Dylan Herzberg, Jason Hengen, Klae Bayda and Ryan Smith also scored. Taysen Holt assisted on four Bienfait goals and Ryan Curzon added three helpers.
Bechtold had two goals for Midale, and Lindenbach, Brad Tomiski and Brayden Bjorndal had the other Mustangs' goals.
Zack Miller (Bienfait) and Tanner Erickson (Midale) were the goalies.
Moosomin defeated the Kipling-Windthorst Oil Kings 6-2. Holloway scored twice and Cole, Nabholz, Drew Schiller and Josh Elmes also scored.
Devin Stewart and Luc Englot tallied for the Oil Kings in the second to make it a 2-2 game at one point.
Levi Horn (Moosomin) and Dylan Decker (Kipling-Windthorst) were the goalies
Three games are scheduled for Nov. 10. The Wawota Flyers will play their first game of the season when they visit Oxbow. Also, Carlyle is at Bienfait and Moosomin will host Midale. All three games start at 8 p.m.
Redvers is at Carnduff on Nov. 12 at 7 p.m.
