Let's start in Waywayseecappo, where the Wolverines finished off a weekend sweep of the Neepawa Natives, the team they'll have to catch to have a chance of playing post-season hockey.
Like I said going into the weekend, the Wolverines would be anywhere from 2 to 10 points out of a playoff spot after the two games... and, well... they're 2 points back, after two wins in regulation.
Saturday at home was a nail-biting 2-1 decision over the visiting Natives.
Paul Vandevelde scored in the first period, while Joe Carney potted the winner in the second. Josh Daley picked up one assist, keeping his points streak alive in a Wayway jersey (3g-1a in 3 games).
If we can trust the shots online... the Wolverines managed no more than 8 shots in any period, including the first, where they were out-shot 13-3, but came out of it leading 1-0. Maybe a little karma, after the Wolverines out-played Neepawa last time they hosted them, but lost 6-4.
Hang on......... it says Riley Feser made 30/32 saves for Neepawa, and Brett Gagnon stopped 15/16 for Wayway... yet the shots say 32-16 NEEPAWA (at least as of right now). Yeesh! Maybe someone who was there can enlighten me!
In any case, Gagnon's been getting the bulk of the action in Wayway's crease lately, and just might take the starters' gig back from 20-year-old Ryan Benitez. Still lots of hockey left though.
To be exact, the Wolverines have 17 games remaining... here's how they break down.
11 home / 6 away
12 vs Sherwood / 5 vs Addison
1 vs Neepawa (@ NEEP Jan/26)
4 vs red-hot Dauphin (3 at home)
4 vs Swan Valley (finish with home and home Feb 23/25)
Neepawa has one game in hand on Wayway... and they'll play that one today (SUN) when they host Dauphin. It'll be Neepawa's 3rd in 3 nights, and Dauphin's first and only game of the weekend.
The Wolverines are back at it Tuesday in Dauphin. After that, 7 of their next 8 games are on home ice. The only road game in that stretch is their last meeting of the season with Neepawa.
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Dane Bonish capped a 3 point night with a powerplay goal in overtime, as the Melville Millionaires beat the Weyburn Red Wings 3-2 (OT). Bonish had a goal and two assists, and has a much bigger role now, as one of the few remaining 20-year-olds up front for the Mils.
Bonish put up 50+ points in Fort Knox and was named Rookie of the Year in the Prairie Junior Hockey League two years ago, and might be blossoming into a more offensive guy in the second half of his final Junior 'A' season.
Ian McNulty and Mark Owen scored Melville's other goals, both in the second period after a scoreless first.
Zach Rakochy faced 44 shots and stopped 42. He had a 36-save shutout the last time he faced Weyburn in Melville. The Mils host the Wings once again on Tuesday.
Notre Dame lost in overtime to Battlefords on Hockey Day in Saskatchewan in Waldheim. That makes Melville 6 points up on Notre Dame for the final playoff spot in the Sherwood Conference, with a game in hand. They're 7 points back of 4th place Estevan with 2 games in hand.
The Mils have played an SJHL-low 40 games (18 left), and have a very intense, and difficult final month of the season.
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Warren Shymko shutout the Flin Flon Bombers for four consecutive periods, before the Bombers scored two quick ones on the Yorkton tender early in the second. And, that was it. Shymko shut the door again in the third, and the Terriers followed up Friday's 4-0 triumph, with a 5-2 decision on Saturday.
The Killer B's were buzzing again, with Jeremy Boyer scoring twice (32) and added one assist (4g-3a in 4 games in Yorkton). Justin Buzzeo had two assists (2g-6a in 4 games in Yorkton). Clarke Breitkreuz also added a couple helpers, and has 1g-4a since the trade.
Robbie Ciolfi scored his first goal since coming back from injury, while Zak Majkowski added his 20th of the season. Scoring from different lines is exactly what the Terriers will need down the stretch. One-line teams often don't have success come playoff time, and the Terriers should have 3 that can score.
I also see Braeden Raiwet (RAY-WAY) played for the Terriers on Saturday, while Sam Rockwell sat out. Raiwet was in Wayway the rest of the season. Not sure how he wound up in Yorkton, but will find out by Monday.
Yorkton's home to Melfort on Tuesday... that one should be a beaut!
- John Calkins scored two second period goals, and that was the difference as the Kindersley Klippers beat Humboldt 4-3. The Klippers went 3 for 4 on their 5 night road swing, and that gets them to within 6 points of Yorkton for top spot. The Terriers and Klipper play twice more this regular season, and both meetings are in Kindersley, so this race will likely come right down to the wire. And, although they seem to be the forgotten ones, Weyburn's right there too, 2 back of Kindersley, and aren't out of the first place race by any stretch.
5 comments:
The shots were backwards on the MJ site. Wayway out shot Neepawa all three periods.
New system is terrible!! Know for a fact that when Daley was traded he had 17 goals and 12 assists with Dauphin. When the system changed, he had 15 goals and 10 assists. Production means alot to Junior players, especially 20 year olds as far as college scholarships. Wish they would straighten things out.
RAY WAY IN WAY WAY. sounds pretty catchy.
so any update on how Raiwet ended up in Yorkton?
Wayway deleted his card which made him a free agent Jan 11th. Yorkton needed a D-man and picked him up.
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