The Richardson Pioneer Weyburn Red Wings took to the ice for the first time in 14 days Saturday night, after three of the games in that span were postponed – one due to weather and two due to ice plant issues at Crescent Point Place. They travelled to Estevan for the first time this season, looking to improve the season record to 2-0 against their Highway 39 rivals.
The Bruins, though, would rally late in the game as Brady Wilson scored a natural hat trick – including the overtime winner – as Estevan skated to a 4-3 victory. The OT loss bumped the Red Wings to second in the Viterra Division, one point back of the Melville Millionaires. The Red Wings also sit tied for third overall in the SJHL.
Neither team was able to get anything going in the first period, with Weyburn goalie Dazza Mitchell and Estevan netminder Benjamin Polhill both perfect through 20 minutes. Then, the scoring would start in the second period.
Jaxson Ruthven would need just 31 seconds of the period to notch his eighth of the season. Ethan Dekay and Jerome Maharaj assisted the goal. The Bruins would reply with a power play goal at 4:50 when Kaelen Whittingham beat Mitchell to tie the game up.
Liam Fitzgerald broke the tie just over 90 seconds later with his eighth of the year. The power play goal, scored at 6:30, was assisted by Max Chakrabarti and Lucas Schmid.
In the third period, Ruthven would make it 3-1 with his second of the night. Dekay and Simon Martin had the assists on the marker. Then, Wilson would take over.
He scored at 6:43 to pull the Bruins to within one. He would then score with 1:33 left to play in regulation to make it 3-3, and force overtime. Just 26 seconds into the extra period Wilson scored again, giving Estevan the 4-3 win.
Despite the loss, the Red Wings still have the edge in the Highway 39 Cup race, as they picked up a single point for the overtime loss. Weyburn is up 3-2 in the annual competition.
The Red Wings will now prepare for their next game, which will again be on the road. The game against the Humboldt Broncos—originally scheduled for Friday and then moved to tonight—has been postponed again. Weyburn is off to North Battleford to take on the North Stars on Friday, the first of two games against the squad on the weekend.