The Richardson Pioneer Weyburn Red Wings were looking to open their lead for first in the Viterra Division Friday night when the Melville Millionaires came to town. The Millionaires, though, would have the Red Wings their sixth loss in the past 10 games, leaving Crescent Point Place with a 5-2 victory.
The Millionaires opened the game with a goal from Simon Parini at 6:04 of the first period. Melville then expanded that lead in the second with a goal from William Forsberg with 9:50 left in the frame, and a power play goal from Noah Belle-Isles with 6:08 remaining.
The Red Wings would answer back with a goal of their own 6:57 into the third period, when Liam Fitzgerald scored his 17th of the season. Dallen Oxelgren and Lucas Schmid had the assists on the goal.
The Millionaires restored the three goal lead just two minutes later, when Raine Hodge beat Angelo Zol to make it 4-1.
Weyburn would get a chance to rally back, though. It would start with a power play goal by Blake Betson with 7:48 to go in the game. Josh Karman and Luke Schraeder had the assists on the goal. Then, Weyburn would get a five-minute power play with 6:50 on the clock, after Melville's Preston Baerwald was given a major and a game misconduct for a hit from behind on Jaxson Ruthven. The Red Wings were unable to capitalize on the advantage, though, despite a number of opportunities.
Gaborik Carlson would put the game on ice with 25 seconds left to play when he scored an empty-net goal.
The Red Wings were helped out in the standings by the Humboldt Broncos, who beat the Yorkton Terriers 5-3. With both of the top two teams in teh Viterra Division falling, the Red Wings hold a one-point edge over Yorkton for first.
Weyburn will be hoping to bounce back from the loss this coming Tuesday, when they travel to Wilcox to play the Notre Dame Hounds for the last time.
After the game, the team held their annual Calcutta Shootout, a fundraiser for the club. Jaxson Ruthven would be the winner of the Calcutta, with Angelo Zol finishing second. Kelvin Gray, a guest shooter representing Richardson Pioneer, would finish third.