Local Sports

The league-leading U14 Estevan Oilers are heading into playoff action this weekend, where they will face the fifth-ranked Weyburn Falcons, with the winner advancing to the league final.

The Oilers finished the regular season with a 5-1 record. “This is the first time that this age group has ever experienced this kind of success, so it feels really good, and I can’t imagine how happy the players are about it,” said head coach Christian Pfiefer.

This week's Airdrie Techmation Thunder Spotlight belongs to Zach Jones.

On Friday the Thunder lost to the Red Deer Vipers 4-3 before dropping another to the Mountainview Colts on Saturday 6-2. On the season, the Thunder have a 3-4 record.

Even though the Thunder dropped both of their games over the weekend, Head Coach and General Manager Mark Kulynych was proud of how Jones played.

"Jonesy played two solid games for us this weekend. He was working hard and playing the right way. Jonesy has gotten better throughout the year and is great for the room."

The Portage Pitbulls U14 squad narrowly defeated their opponents, the Eastman Raiders, in Steinbach on the weekend, in their playoff quarter final.

Head Coach Luke Irwin says it was nice to get back at a team who gave them trouble in the regular season.

"It was a rematch of one of our games that we played already this season, where we had a tight game against them, and ended up coming on the wrong side of a victory, so we knew it was going to be a tough game going in. It was kind of back-and-forth all game. Final score was 66-62, I believe, so it came down to the wire."

The Moose Jaw Warriors are preparing to face the Medicine Hat Tigers at the Hangar tomorrow. It’s Military Appreciation Night. 
Local members of the military from the Canadian Forces Snowbirds, 15-Wing Moose Jaw and the Saskatchewan Dragoons will be special guests.

Senior Boys volleyball last night, Vanier shutout Cornerstone 3 sets to none, and it was Peacock over Briercrest 3 sets to 1. 

Tier 1 volleyball for the Senior Girls, Cornerstone beat Peacock 3 sets to none, and Vanier won 3 sets to none against Briercrest. 

The Red Deer Rebels snapped their three-game losing streak Wednesday night with a 5-4 overtime win in Calgary.

Hunter Mayo was the overtime hero with his second goal of the game 2:22 into the extra frame.

The Rebels have now won 10 straight over the Hitmen dating back to last season.

Red Deer was up 2-0 after the first period with goals by Cohen Poulin and Jaxon Fuder, who netted his first WHL goal. 

Hunter Mayo made it 3-0 early in the second with his fourth goal of the season.

Virden will host the defending Manitoba Junior Hockey League champion Winkler Flyers tonight. Head coach Tyson Ramsey will join Clayton Dreger on the Oil Capitals Report which airs Thursdays at 5:15 p.m. on CJRB Radio 1220.

The reigning Manitoba Junior Hockey League champions travel to southwestern Manitoba tonight to face the Virden Oil Capitals. Head coach Matt Melo will join Clayton Dreger on the Flyers Report which airs Thursdays at 5:15 p.m. on CFAM Radio 950.

The U18 AAA Weyburn Gold Wings were back home Wednesday night for an exhibition game, as they welcomed the Southern Alberta Hockey Academy to Crescent Point Place. The game would see fast action going in both directions, but ultimately it would be SAHA coming out on top as they skated to a 3-1 win. 

"They're a good, fast team and they know how to move the puck," Gold Wings captain Kiah Shields said of their opponent. "So, us picking up our pace and keeping our heads up is just something that we have to go off of a learning curve, and pick that up as well."

The Brandon Wheat Kings opened their five-game homestand with a 6-3 victory over the WHL's Western Conference leading Spokane Chiefs at Westoba Place. Matteo Michels and Marcus Nguyen had two goals each for Brandon. Joby Baumuller and Nolan Flamand also scored for the Wheat Kings who led 3-0 after the first period. The Chiefs rallied with three unanswered second period goals to tie the game at 3-3. Michels potted the go-ahead goal with 60 seconds left in the middle frame.

Steinbach Regional lost its Winnipeg High School Hockey League season opener 4-2 to the J.H. Bruns Broncos Wednesday afternoon at the T.G. Smith Arena. Dylan Wolfe and Ryan Reynolds scored for the Sabres who led 2-0 after the first period. The Bruins rallied with four unanswered goals including Kale Lussier's go-ahead marker with 2:11 left in the third period. SRSS netminder Trae Fast made 14 saves. The Sabres next game is Tuesday, October 22nd against the River East Kodiaks at the Gateway Arena in Winnipeg.