By TERRY PUGH
The Warman Wolverines started the new year at home on a winning note with a 7-4 win over the Yorkton Terriers on Saturday, January 3.
But that momentum didn’t last long.
The Wolverines were edged 3-1 by the visiting Humboldt Broncos on Sunday, January 4.
With the split decision, the Wolverines seem to be gradually finding their legs in their inaugural season. While they’re still in last place in the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL) Nutrien Division with 20 points (9 wins, 22 losses and two shoot-out losses), well back of division rivals Battlefords North Stars (38 points), Kindersley Klippers (35 points) and Humboldt Broncos (34 points), they’re still ahead of UPL Division cellar-dwellers LaRonge Ice Wolves (16 points), and just a little behind UPL Division third-place team Melfort Mustangs (25 points).
And with ten more weeks of the regular season to go, there’s still time for the Wolverines to collect enough wins to qualify for the playoffs.
As long as they keep improving, that is.
The lessons learned from the January 3 game against Yorkton might be a good starting point.
The Wolverines drew first blood early in that game on a goal by Nate Crashley just 18 seconds after the initial puck drop. But Yorkton’s Gabriel Courchesne tied things up midway through the first period.
The visitors took the lead early in the second period on a goal by Aidan Vallance, but Warman responded with three goals of their own before the second intermission: Owen Parks got one, followed by Nate Crashley with his second of the game, and then one from Oliver Nottingham.
In the third period, Yorkton’s Vinay Junek and Owen Parks scored for the Terriers, but Warman’s Carter Bergen, Kayden Yeaman and Riley Rich-Holden also tallied to give the Wolverines the victory.
Warman goaltender Griffin Wright was solid between the pipes for the home team.
On Sunday, January 4 against Humboldt, the Wolverines also scored first on a goal by Benett Leibel in the early minutes of the opening period.
They maintained that lead through two periods, but Humboldt rallied in the third frame with three straight goals by Jeter Korte, Logan Flint and Rylan Hue to give the visitors a 3-1 victory.
The Wolverines hit the road for a two-game series in Estevan against the Bruins on January 9 and 10. Their next home game is Friday, January 16 when they host the Battlefords North Stars.