The Winkler Flyers 2021-22 Manitoba Junior Hockey League season came to an end Saturday night at Credit Union Place. Klim Georgiev scored twice and Carson Cherepak made 33 saves as the Dauphin Kings defeated Winkler 5-2 and took the best-of-seven semifinal four games to one. Troy Hamilton and Trent Penner did the goal scoring for the Flyers. Dauphin lead 2-1 after the first period and 3-1 after forty minutes. Braden Birnie, Ty Paisley and Travis Hensrud scored two goals each as Steinbach bounced the Virden Oil Capitals 8-2. The Pistons lead that series three games to two. Game six goes Monday in Virden.
The Pembina Valley Twisters gave up four power play goals and lost 5-2 to the St. James Canucks Saturday at the Morris MultiPlex. Mike Heppner and Jacob Carels scored for the Twisters. The Canucks lead the best-of-seven final three games to one and can win their first Manitoba Major Junior Hockey League championship since the 1997-98 season when they host Pembina Valley Monday at Bell MTS Iceplex.
The Winnipeg Wild are Manitoba U18 AAA Hockey League champions. The Wild scored five third period goals en route to a 6-3 victory over the Wheat Kings in Brandon and captured the best-of-five final three games to two. Kai Elkie had a pair of goals for the Wild and Andrew Ness made 51 saves. The Wild reeled off three straight wins after losing the first two games of the series. The Wild join the Saskatchewan champion Notre Dame Hounds, the Thunder Bay Kings and host Southwest Cougars at the Telus Cup West Regional Championship which begins Thursday at Tundra Oil & Gas Place in Virden.
The Manitoba Female U18 AAA Hockey League champion Westman Wildcats dropped a 4-1 decision to the Notre Dame Hounds Saturday in Hartney. Callie Rice had the lone goal for the Wildcats. The Saskatchewan champions swept the best-of-three West Regional series in two games straight and now advance to the Esso Cup next month in Okotoks, Alberta.
The Winnipeg Ice and Brandon Wheat Kings were both winners in the Western Hockey League playoffs Saturday night. Riley Ginnell scored 7:16 into overtime to lift Brandon past the Rebels 2-1 in Red Deer. Ethan Kruger stopped 38 shots including a third period penalty shot by Rebels forward Kai Uchacz as the Wheat Kings evened the best-of-seven opening round series at a game a piece. Conor Geekie had a goal and an assist and Carson Lambos chipped in with three helpers as the Ice downed the Prince Albert Raiders 5-2 and now lead that series two games to none.