It took just 46 seconds for the Richardson Pioneer Weyburn Red Wings to get on the board Friday night, and when they did, they never looked back. The Wings would hold off the Millionaires, who got seven power play chances and picked up a 4-1 win at Crescent Point Place.
The goal just 46 seconds into the opening period was scored by Ryley Morgan. His 15th of the campaign was assisted by Ty Mason and Jackson Hassman. Hassman himself would get the puck past Clement Labillois just 15 seconds later, making it 2-0 for the Wings.
Then, the penalty trouble started. The Red Wings would take five penalties in the first period, including two on the same play, but thanks to strong defensive play, and the quick reflexes of netminder Dazza Mitchell, the Wings held the two-goal lead.
The second period would see neither team manage to score, despite plenty of opportunities. Fans, though, were disappointed in the officials after a fight happened in front of the Melville bench with just a few minutes left in the period.
Millionaires forward Isaac Suppin had dropped the gloves and started a fight with Weyburn blueliner Nolan Henderson. Henderson didn’t engage in the fight at first but was given a five-minute major and game misconduct. Suppin would receive the same, plus a two-minute minor for instigating the fight.
In the third period, the Red Wings would open up the lead before the period was five minutes old. Ty Mason scored his 15th of the season, assisted by Morgan, making it 3-0 for the Wings.
The penalty trouble for the Wings would catch up with them in the third, as Jaxon Martens scored his third goal since being acquired by the Millionaires at the roster deadline. The power play marker at the 9:11 mark made it 3-1.
Jakob Kalin would put the icing on the cake for the Wings late in the third. He shot the puck on goal, and it appeared to go in but was waved off. The puck ended up sitting loose beside the Millionaires' net, and no one was making an effort to clear it away, so Kalin potted it in with 3:49 to go, making it a 4-1 game.
The two teams will now meet in Melville Saturday night. You can catch all the action on Red Wing Radio, BIG 106, starting with the pregame show at 6:45 p.m.