The senior hockey leagues in the southeast got things going in earnest this weekend, with all three leagues having a packed slate of games.
Friday, November 1st
Coronach Merchants open season with win over Gravelbourg Hornets
In the Notekeu Hockey League, the season started in Gravelbourg as the Hornets entertained the Coronach Merchants. The Merchants would take the lead in the second period and held on for a 4-2 victory.
Randy Stowe, Carter Bartlett, Jessie Hicks and Kyle Bouvier all tallied for the Merchants in the win. Davyn Gauthier and Justin Boire replied for the Hornets.
Redvers Rockets soar to victory in season opener
There were two games in the Big Six Friday night.
The action started in Redvers, where the Rockets were at home against the Kipling Windthorst Oil Kings. The Rockets would score three goals in the second period to pull away, and they held on for a 7-4 victory.
Naton Miller and Jordan Miller had two goals each for the Rockets in the win, while Oliver Poirier, Carson Henrion and Kenton Miller also found the back of the net. Jordan Mish, Austin Fleck, Lucas Fleck, and Drew Czerwonka had the goals for the Oil Kings.
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The Midale Mustangs travelled up to Moosomin to take on the defending champion Rangers Friday night. The Rangers would jump out ahead early, and went on to a 7-3 victory.
Bud Holloway and Taylor Sanheim had a pair of goals each with Ryker Cole, Brad Cole and Carter Sawchuk also scoring for the Rangers. The goals for the Mustangs came from Logan Martinson, Devin Johnson, and Sterling Bear.
Bisons, Bulldogs go to overtime to open season
In the QVHHL, there was just one game Friday night, and it would be an overtime thriller between the Bethune Bulldogs and the Balgonie Bisons.
Parker Hendren and Evan Sare scored for Bethune in regulation, with Eric Bollefer and Riley Woykins scoring for Balgonie. Then, with 52 seconds left in the overtime period, Woykins would score on the power play to give the Bisons the victory.
Saturday, November 2nd
Mossbank Blades victorious in Notekeu Hockey League debut
Saturday night saw the Yellow Grass Wheat Kings open their season on the road, travelling to Avonlea to take on the Arrows. The Arrows would take the lead in the first period and held on for a 5-3 victory.
Josh Jelinski scored twice for the Arrows, with Michael Miller, Mitch MacDonald, and Riley Knoll also scoring. The goals for the Wheat Kings came from Tucker Neuberger, who scored twice, and Parker Douglas.
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The Radville Nationals also opened their season on the road, and they doubled up the Rouleau Ramblers 6-3 thanks to a five-goal outburst in the 3rd period.
Cody Nagy scored twice in the win, with Davin Bourassa, Clinton Pirio, Kyle Perras and Gavin Doud also finding the back of the net for the Nationals. Austin Woodley, Triston Sorenson, and Jaydon Forrester scored for the Ramblers.
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The Mossbank Blades would play their first game in the NoteHL against the Gravelbourg Hornets on Friday. The Blades would jump out front in the second period and went on to a 4-1 victory.
Ryder Rutko, Ryder Petersen, Riley Wilson, and Josh Grywacheski all scored for the Blades in the win. The lone goal for the Hornets came from the stick of Davin Gauthier.
Midale Mustangs bounce back against Oil Kings
The Redvers Rockets continued where they left off in their game Friday when they paid a visit to the Carnduff Red Devils Saturday. The Rockets skated to an 8-1 win.
Kenton Miller had a pair of goals for Redvers, with the other goals coming from Koltyn Miller, Oliver Poirier, Braeden Magotiaux, Daylin Smallchild, Jodron Miller, and Brady Fidierchuk. Ben Hiltz scored the lone goal for the Red Devils.
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The other game in the Big Six Saturday saw the Midale Mustangs bouncing back from their loss Friday as they played host to the Kipling Windthorst Oil Kings. The Mustangs would score four in the opening frame and go on to an 8-4 victory in a chippy game that saw the two teams coming for 136 penalty minutes.
Steven Lindenbach and Brad Tomiski scored two goals each for the Mustangs in the win, with Connor Burk, Jordan Ross, Matt Geske and Sterling Bear also tallying. The goals for the Wheat Kings came from Landon Melzer, Dan Loffler, Austin Fleck, and Lucas Fleck.
Balcarres Broncs edge out Milestone Flyers in close contest
The Raymore Rockets opened their season with a win at home, beating the Lumsden Monarchs 4-1.
Austin Linnen scored twice for the Rockets, with Jordan Kazymyra and Tanner Eberle scoring the other goals. Kyle Johnson scored the lone goal for Lumsden.
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The Milestone Flyers opened their season at home, taking on the Balcarres Broncs. The Broncs scored twice in the third period to edge the Flyers 4-3.
Garret Meigum, Brayden Frank, Scott Mickoski, and Eamon Milligan all scored for Balcarres. The goals for the Flyers came from Kale Williamson, Zane Short, and Brayden Cockwill.