In their final regular season game, the Richardson Pioneer Weyburn Red Wings secured the Highway 39 cup over their rival Estevan Bruins 6-4. On the road at Affinity Place in Estevan in front of a crowd of 1128, the Red Wings got things going early with three goals in the first 5 minutes.
Just 1:39 into the opening frame, Roan Burgess scored his first SJHL goal assisted by Ryder Rommelaere and Jase McNichol. Then, roughly two minutes later at 3:20, Max Chakrabarti scored his 14th goal of the year, assisted by Luke Dekay and Josh Karman. 56 seconds later at 4:16, Red Wings captain Blake Betson put home his 13th goal of the year assisted by Jerome Maharaj and Dallen Oxelgren.
This game was Betson's 150th as a Red Wing, playing all 4 seasons of his Junior A career with the Red Wings and named captain earlier this year. On the captain's goal, it was Jerome Maharaj's 50th assist of the season, first in the SJHL and the first 50 assist season for a Red Wing since Keegan Bruce had 53 in the 2011-2012 season.
Into the second period, both teams would exchange powerplay goals with Bruins forward Steven Steranka scoring his 15th of the year at 13:10, assisted by Ewan Rennie and Kaelan Whittingham. Red Wings would respond two minutes later, with Lucas Schmid tucking in his 14th of the year at 15:33, assisted by Josh Sale and Max Chakrabarti to make it 4-1 after two periods.
The Bruins would push back in the third, with 3 straight goals in 3 minutes. 5:14 in, Bruins captain Brady Wilson scored his 14th of the season assisted by Carter Onrait and Chase Holt. Then at 7:12, Steranka would get his second of the night at 16th of the season, assisted by Jacob Hufty and Chase Holt. Just over a minute later, Kieran Ronan would tie it up 4-4 with his 6th of the season, assisted by Hayden Pimm and Jagden Taylor.
The Red Wings would get the final strikes though with under 4 minutes left to go, as Ryder Rommelaere would put home his 6th goal of the season, assisted by Burgess and McNichol at 16:21. Josh Sale would solidify the win with an unassisted empty net goal with 35 seconds left at 19:25 of the third to secure the 6-4 win. The Red Wings win the Highway 39 Cup with a 5-3-1 record against the Bruins, and finish the season with 35 wins, 19 losses, and 2 overtime losses for 72 total points.
Red Wings will take this week to prepare for the first round of the SJHL playoffs, hosting the Battlefords North Stars on Friday and Saturday at 7:00 P.M. at Crescent Point Place. Catch all the action on Great Plains Ford Red Wing Radio Country 106.7, starting at 6:45 P.M. with the pre-game show.