The Richardson Pioneer Weyburn Red Wings came into the game Saturday night against the Notre Dame Hounds with a three-game winning streak. After 40 minutes, it appeared the Red Wings were in danger of having their streak snapped. Four goals in the third period would turn their fortunes around, and the Red Wings came away with a 6-4 victory, and first place in the Viterra Division.
The Hounds would take the lead early in the game, welcoming starting goalie Preston Patenaude to the SJHL just 33 seconds in. Ian Buors would beat Patenaude, making his first-ever SJHL start, to put the visitors up 1-0.
Ethan Dekay would reply for the Red Wings 7:30 into the game with his 20th goal of the season. The tally was assisted by Josh Karman and Luke Schraeder.
However, Notre Dame would regain the lead with 3:42 left on the clock. Evin Bossel, acquired at the trade deadline from the Flin Flon Bombers, scored to put the Hounds up 2-1.
The lead would expand in the second period, as Hudson Kerr scored 5:59 into the frame to make it 3-1.
Weyburn would reply with 8:03 to go in the middle frame, as Drew Molde notched his fourth of the campaign while the Red Wings were shorthanded. Jerome Maharaj was credited with the assist on the goal.
The lead would be restored to two goals before the second was over. Marko Djordjevic scored on the power play with 4:34 to go, making it 4-2. The goal also ended the night for Patenaude, who was replaced in the Weyburn crease by Angelo Zol.
The goaltending change seemed to spark the Red Wings, and it started just 1:52 into the third.
Dekay netted his second goal of the game, assisted by Liam Fitzgerald and Lucas Schmid. Then, Turner McIntyre scored his sixth of the season on the power play, assisted by Max Chakrabarti and Maharaj.
The game-winning goal would come just before the halfway mark, as Simon Martin ripped the puck past Notre Dame goalie Spencer Borsos for his first of the season. Cyprus Smith-Davis and Maharaj had the assists on the marker.
"Oh yeah, it's awesome," Martin said of the goal afterwards. "I mean, it's nice to see one go through and get in the net there. I mean, I've had lots of shots on net, just one hasn't got through yet, so it's awesome."
Dekay then put the final nail in the coffin with 56.8 seconds remaining when he scored the hat trick goal to make it a 6-4 final.
With the win, and a Yorkton Terrier loss to the Melfort Mustangs, the Red Wings moved into first place in the Viterra Division, one point ahead of Yorkton. They are now in sole possession of 3rd place in the overall standings, and three points back of the Flin Flon Bombers for second.
The Red Wings will look to close that gap Tuesday night when they host the La Ronge Ice Wolves for the first time this year at Crescent Point Place.