Three of our local teams fighting for position in the bottom half of their respective standings weren't able to help their causes on Friday night.
I was in Neepawa, where the Swan Valley Stampeders trailed right off the hop, and weren't able to bounce back, falling 4-1 to the Natives.
Taylor Epp scored Swan Valley's lone goal, while Neepawa defenseman Tyler Gaudry had a goal and two assists.
A win would have clinched a playoff spot for the Stampeders, and would have put the Natives on the brink of elimination.
The Stamps finish their 2 game swing tonight in Portage against the first place Terriers.
--------------
The Wayway Wolverines were without a regulation loss in 12 games, until they became the first team to be shutout by the Steinbach Pistons this season, falling 3-0 last night.
17-year-old Brenden Edie made 34 saves for the shutout in his MJHL debut, being called up from the 'AAA' Midget Eastman Selects.
Brett Gagnon stopped 29/31 shots for the Wolverines, who travel to Selkirk tonight. The Wolverines will get leading goal scorer Shane Goodrunning back in the lineup, after serving a 3-game suspension.
The Wolverines are still 9 points up on the last place Neepawa Natives, and trail Swan Valley by 2 points for 4th.
Elsewhere on Friday, Dauphin beat OCN 3-2 to jump over the Blizzard into 2nd spot in the Sherwood. The Kings are now also 6 points behind Portage for the Sherwood Division lead, after the Terriers fell 5-4 in Selkirk. Winkler kept pace with Selkirk, doubling the Winnipeg Blues 6-3. The Steelers and Flyers remain tied for 1st in the Addison with 70 points. The Blues loss eliminates them from playoff contention, and means the idle Winnipeg Saints will finish 3rd.
--------------
Brayden Metz had 1g-1a, while Cody Hanson had 3 assists, leading the Melfort Mustangs over their old Melville Millionaire teammates 6-1.
Roger Tagoona scored for Melville, while Alex Sirard allowed 6 goals on 38 shots.
The Mils return home tonight to face the Nipawin Hawks, 7:30 at the Stadium.
Melville has a game in hand on Notre Dame, and a 2 point lead on the Hounds for the final playoff spot in the Sherwood. Notre Dame's in Melfort on Saturday night, and they'll host the Millionaires Monday.
Other action Friday saw Weyburn score 4 third period goals to beat Estevan 5-2, and take a 3 point lead over the Bruins for 3rd place in the Sherwood.
Flin Flon blanked Battleford 5-0 to leap-frog the North Stars into 4th in the Bauer Conference.
And Humboldt clinched 3rd place in the Bauer with a 5-1 win over Nipawin. That means one first round SJHL Playoff series is already set. The 2nd place Melfort Mustangs will host 3rd place Humboldt, while La Ronge will await a Survivor Series winner, likely between Flin Flon and Battleford.
Nipawin's mathematically alive, but a loss in Melville tonight would eliminate them from playoff contention.
The Sherwood Conference seeds are far from settled, but the Yorkton Terriers have another chance to clinch first tonight in Kindersley.
2 comments:
Hey Steiner...Hanson actually had 3 assists but hey, who's countin!
The Melville faithful showed some real class by going into Melfort with a sign that read, "Good luck Metz and Hanson, just not tonight!"
I heard that Cody and Brayden had a good visit with their old crew in the Mils locker room post game.
I imagine it was a tough game for them emotionally!
I hear they even gave Feez some pointers on how to windmill an armful of lumber!!!
Cheers and Go Mils!!!
I see that... Pretty sure it said 2a at the time the game ended. Mils need this one tonight, and if they can't beat ND monday things should be looking pretty good! Also need Metz and Hanson to be on their game vs the Hounds tonight!
Post a Comment