The Battle for the Highway 39 Cup resumes on Friday, when the Richardson Pioneer Weyburn Red Wings head to Estevan to take on the Bruins at Affinity Place. The two teams will then come back to Weyburn Saturday night for the second half of the home-and-home at Crescent Point Place.
Coming into the weekend the Red Wings, who are the defending Highway 39 Cup champions, have a 2-0-1 lead in the series, and could all but clinch the series with a pair of wins this weekend. With the possibility of winning the Highway 39 Cup for a second year in a row this weekend, the atmosphere has been ramping up.
The rivalry has also been ramping up on social media. It started with a video posted by Estevan Police Chief Jamie Blunden. He followed it up with a second video, singing along to the song “Broken Wings” by Mr. Mister.
Weyburn Police Chief Brent VanDeSype responded with a video of his own Wednesday.
To add to the excitement, it is Parents’ Weekend for the Red Wings, with the parents of the players coming to town to watch the game.
“I know guys will be excited to see their parents and play in front of them too,” said defenseman Josh Karman. “And, it’s another two divisional games.”
Weyburn is riding a four-game winning streak heading into the games, with the most recent wins being a 3-2 OT victory over the Flin Flon Bombers at home, then a 6-3 win over the Yorkton Terriers in a physical game that saw the teams combine for 150 penalty minutes.
“We got a lot of guys who play the right way, and play hard,” commented forward Jaxson Ruthven. “When something comes up, they’re ready to answer the bell.”
“Both of these teams have something to prove this weekend,” noted Dylan Fiessel, voice of the Red Wings. “Not only are they competing for the Highway 39 Cup and supremacy in southeast Saskatchewan, they’re fighting for their identities for the rest of the season.”
Fiessel added the Bruins will want to show they are still competitive as they try to climb into playoff contention, while Weyburn wants to continue their high-flying ways and solidify themselves as Canterra Seeds Cup contenders.
You can catch all the action in Friday's game on Great Plains Ford Red Wing Radio Country 106.7, starting with the pregame show at 6:45 p.m. Then, the puck drops at Crescent Point Place Saturday night at 7 p.m.