The Twin Rivers Hockey League quarter-final playoff series have begun. All quarter-final series are best of three.
In the West Division and the overall league, the Willow Cree Chiefs gained top spot with 30 points on a record of 15 wins and 1 loss during the regular season.
They faced the Waldheim Warriors, the West Division fourth place team.
Game one required overtime to determine a winner after a pair of goals by Kendrew Friesen staked an early lead for Waldheim. Willow Cree tied it in the third period on markers by Gordon Wasteste and Dustin Perillat, setting up the overtime winner by Darwin Morin.
Willow Cree won game two in Waldheim 6-2 as Corey Soonias and Dustin Perillat each scored a pair and Trent Campbell and Darwin Morin scored singles. Kendrew Friesen and Kyle Schmidt scored for the home team.
Second place Rosthern Wheat Kings and Dalmeny Sabres squared off in the other West Division match-up.
In game one a hat trick by Sean Aschim led the Sabres to a 10-2 victory. Chance Adrian had a pair of goals while Braden Trapp, Dawson Rowley, Kyle Martin, Travis Swanson, and Zach Harms netted singles. Tyler Peterson was solid in net, making 28 saves in the win. Aaron Greyeyes and Brett Blatz scored for the home squad.
Game two was a real barnburner, giving fans from both teams the best of what senior hockey offers.
Dalmeny got off to a 2-0 lead on goals by Sean Aschim and Kyle Martin.
Before the first period ended Rosthern tied it up on consecutive short-handed breakaway goals by Aaron Greyeyes.
Craig Leverton’s powerplay marker restored Dalmeny’s lead early in the second period.
Aaron Greyeyes’ powerplay goal tied the game.
Aaron Greyeyes and Brett Weiman netted shorthanded goals to give Rosthern a two-goal lead going into the third period.
Dalmeny was not to be denied on this day as Chance Adrian, Craig Leverton and Travis Swanson goals restored their lead, and Sean Aschim sealed the deal with an empty net goal with eight seconds remaining.
The Eastern Division battle for first place was determined by Hockey Sask tie-breaking rules. The Birch Hills Blackhawks edged out the Kinistino Tigers in their head to head series to earn first place.
The Blackhawks faced the Hanley Huskies after Hanley secured a final playoff spot with a 4-0 win over the Cudworth Tricky Maroons in both teams’ regular season finale.
Hanley won game one 8-5 in Birch Hills on Sunday, February 5. Game two is set to take place in Hanley on Wednesday, February 8.
The Kinistino Tigers and Allan Flames are playing in the remaining quarter-final match-up. Kinistino won an overtime thriller 3-2 in game one played in Kinistino on Friday, February 3. Game two is set to take place in Allan on Tuesday, February 7.