A goal from Jerome Maharaj of the Richardson Pioneer Weyburn Red Wings gave the SJHL’s Team Gold the lead in the opening game of the SJHL/MJHL Showcase Tuesday afternoon, and the rest of the team didn’t look back as they went on to top the MJHL’s Team Red 5-2.
The SJHL opened the scoring 4:47 into the game when Aidan Hutchison, who plays for the Melfort Mustangs, put the puck in past MJHL netminder Malachi Klassen. Ryan Duguay had the assist on the goal.
Manitoba would tie things up, though, when Jordan Bax scored with 7:36 to play in the period. His marker, assisted by Alex Walicki and Brett Ward, made it 1-1.
Then came the goal from Maharaj 1:50 later. The play started with a pass from Red Wings captain Max Monette to Chase Friedt-More at the point. He would take a booming slap shot, and Maharaj was there to pot the rebound, making it 2-1 for the SJHL.
Before the period was over, the SJHL would score one more goal, as Ilia Chmelevski got the puck past Klassen to make it 3-1. Tylin Hilbig and Keegan Little had the assists on the tally.
The MJHL squad would get back on the board early in the second when Nolan Nenow got the puck past SJHL netminder Ben Motew 1:40 into the frame. Slade Stanick and Mathieu Moreira had the helpers on the goal. Before the period was over, though, the SJHL restored the two-goal lead.
Hilbig scored a goal of his own at the 9:06 mark. Little and Chmelevski had the assists on the goal, and the SJHL was up 4-2 after 40 minutes.
In the third, Tanner Gold would score on the power play to make it 5-2 for the SJHL, with Chmelevski and Braxton Buckberger getting credited with the assists.
Two more games are scheduled for the day at the SJHL/MJHL Showcase, with the SJHL’s Team White taking on Team Black from the MJHL. The day wraps up when Saskatchewan’s Team Blue, which includes Red Wings forward Cade Meiklejohn, takes on Team White.