By KEVIN BERGER, Local Journalism Initiative
The Warman U18 AAA Wildcats kicked off the new year by racking up one win and two losses, putting them in sixth place within the Saskatchewan Male AAA Hockey League (SMAAHL).
The Wildcats opened with an 8-4 loss to the Saskatoon Blazers at the Warman Home Centre Communiplex on Wednesday, January 7.
The two teams were on an even keel in the first period, each scoring two goals to leave the score tied. However, the Blazers ran away with the game, scoring three goals to gain a 5-3 lead in the second period and another three goals in the third to secure victory.
Cruz Bear scored Warman’s first goal off assists by Logan Olsen and Dawson Gamble. Tyson Janzen followed up a couple minutes later with an unassisted goal.
Warman’s remaining goals were scored by Weston Kostiuk, assisted by Nixxon Arcand-Vandale and Gamble, and Bear unassisted.
The Wildcats quickly recovered from that rough start, however, and earned a 3-2 victory over the Saskatoon Contacts at the Communiplex on Friday, January 9.
Janzen scored Warman’s first goal off an assist by Gamble in the first period, giving the Wildcats a 1-0 lead.
The Contacts erased that lead with goals in the second and third period, but a power play goal by Arcand-Vandale, assisted by Sam Failler, tied things up roughly halfway through the period.
Finally, with less than a minute left on the clock, Gamble scored the winning goal off assists by Declan Borthwick and Bear.
Jacob Appleby minded the Wildcats’ goal for the entire 60 minutes, blocking 25 of 27 shots.
The Wildcats then faced off with the Contacts at Merlis Belsher Place on Sunday, January 11. The game unfolded in much the same way as their previous match, except this time the Contacts earned a 2-1 lead in the second period and scored a power play goal in the third to secure a 3-2 win.
Scoring for the Wildcats were Gamble and Cruz Harrison. Arcand-Vandale, Weston Kostiuk, Dawson Baht and Walker Bergen all contributed assists.
This week, the Wildcats will head to Tisdale on Wednesday, January 14 to face the Trojans, who are currently in seventh place within the SMAAHL.
The Wildcats then return to Warman to host the Yorkton Maulers for two games on Saturday, January 17 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, January 18 at 2:45 p.m.