It would take a shootout, but the Richardson Pioneer Weyburn Red Wings got back into the win column Friday night, as they opened a trip to North Battleford with a 5-4 win over the North Stars. Jerome Marahaj, Lucas Schmid, and Ethan Dekay had a goal and an assist each in the win, with Dekay getting the game-winner in the shootout. Meanwhile, Angelo Zol stopped 41 of the 45 shots he faced to earn the victory between the pipes.
The Red Wings would open the scoring in the first period when Braigh LeGrandeur netted his sixth goal of the season just 3:21 into the game. Schmid and Josh Karman had the assists on the goal.
Then, Dekay scored on the power play at 5:56, making it a 2-0 lead for the Red Wings. Max Chakrabarti and Maharaj had the assists on the tally.
The North Stars got on the board just past the halfway mark of the period. Sebastian Miles scored his first of the season, beating Zol to make it 2-1.
Weyburn wasn't finished scoring, though, and Maharaj scored his fourth of the campaign with 56 seconds to go in the first period. Dekay and Jaxson Ruthven would be credited with the assists on the goal.
The Battlefords would come out in the second period looking to even the score, and that is just what they would do with a pair of goals just over four minutes apart. The first of the goals came at 9:05 when Linken Fisher scored. Then, Nikita Ivaschenko would score with 6:18 remaining to make it a 3-3 game heading into the third period.
In the third, Schmid would score a goal, assisted by Karman and Liam Fitzgerald, at the 6:56 mark to give the Red Wings a 4-3 lead. The lead, though, wouldn't survive the period.
With their net empty in favour of the extra attacker, the North Stars would tie the game with 54 seconds left in regulation as Anthony Campbell scored to make it 4-4.
In overtime, both teams had quality chances, putting four shots on net each, but neither goaltender would budge. This meant the game would go to a shootout to determine a winner.
In the shootout, Zol would be perfect, stopping Campbell, Ivaschenko, and Braden Nienaber. At the other end, the Red Wings sent out Maharaj, Ruthven, and Dekay. Dekay would beat Justen Maric to secure the win for the Red Wings.
With the win, Weyburn moves back into first in the Viterra Division, one point up on the Melville Millionaires, and one point back of the North Stars for second overall in the SJHL. The Red Wings will have a chance to move into second place with a win on Saturday night when they play the North Stars again in North Battleford.
You will be able to catch all the action in the game on Great Plains Ford Red Wing Radio Country 106.7. Dylan Fiessel will have the call, starting with the pregame show at 7:15 p.m.