For the second season in a row under head coach Cody Mapes, the Richardson Pioneer Weyburn Red Wings are off to the postseason. The Wings skated to a 4-2 win over the Notre Dame Hounds at Crescent Point Place Tuesday night to secure a playoff berth, and now, will look to move up the standings in the remaining five games this season.
The Red Wings were led by Cade Meiklejohn and Jaxson Ruthven, who finished with a goal and an assist each, and Dazza Mitchell made 39 saves and added an assist on the final goal of the night.
Weyburn got on the board with 9:15 remaining in the first period when Ruthven got the puck past Johann Tremblay-Kau. The goal, Ruthven's 14th of the season, was assisted by Colin Doherty and Meiklejohn. Meiklejohn would then score a goal of his own on the power play at the 4:09 mark of the second, with Liam Fitzgerald and Ruthven assisting.
Notre Dame would finally get something past Dazza when a bounce off the skate of Kyle Kalamaras 5:06 into the third slid into the net. The power play goal made it 2-1 for the Red Wings. It was followed up by a goal by Paul Bloomer with 8:23 to go in the third, tying the game up 2-2.
The tie wouldn't last long, though, as 45 seconds later Doherty added his third of the season to make it 3-2. The game-winner was assisted by Meiklejohn and Ruthven.
With the Hounds net empty in the dying moments of the game, Max Monette fired the puck from the near face-off circle of his end into the yawning cage with 49 seconds to play, securing the victory. Mitchell would be credited with the assist.
The Red Wings, with the win, vaulted past the Kindersley Klippers for 6th overall in the SJHL. Weyburn is also just one point back of the Melville Millionaires for first in the Viterra Division, and 5th overall. This will make the home-and-home between the two clubs this coming weekend potentially for the division pennant, depending on how the Estevan Bruins, who are two points back of Weyburn, do against Humboldt and Notre Dame this week.
The Red Wings home-and-home with Melville starts Friday night in Weyburn, before heading to Melville Saturday night.