By KEVIN BERGER, Local Journalism Initiative
The Martensville Chiefs are now in first place within the Bob Dybvig Division of the Prairie Junior Hockey League (PJHL) after earning two wins over the Saskatoon Westleys on October 7 and 10.
The Chiefs’ only loss so far in the regular season was at their September 26 home-opener, when they fell 6-2 to the visiting Westleys.
Heading into the October 7 home game, the Chiefs were looking to avenge that earlier loss to the Westleys, who were undefeated up until that evening.
The course of the game was basically decided in the first period, when Martensville scored three goals to earn a 3-0 lead.
They extended their lead to 4-0 in the second before the Westleys were finally able to score a goal of their own. That was not enough to change Saskatoon’s fortunes, however, and the Chiefs scored one final power play goal in the third period to win 5-1.
Scoring for the Chiefs were Koston Baliski, Luc Fortier, Davin Hart, Tristin Tetreault-Yaremko (who also assisted Baliski) and Troy Shewchuk (assisted by Baliski).
Parker Livingstone assisted on three separate goals, while the remaining assists were contributed by Logan Fisher, Turner Krahn and Fortier.
The Chiefs made 32 shots on goal while the Westleys fired 28 shots at Nicholas Grunerud.
In the October 10 home game, the Westleys initially seemed to have the edge, gaining a 2-0 lead off goals in the first and second periods.
However, the Chiefs fired back in the second with goals by Broden Wotherspoon (assisted by Baliski) and Kieran Patterson (assisted by Brady Hujber and Luke Senick).
Tied 2-2, Tetreault-Yaremko then scored the winning goal off assists by Fortier and Lane Keyowski in the third period. Senick then scored an unassisted insurance goal with under five minutes left on the clock.
The Chiefs made 28 shots on goal while Grunerud blocked 41 of 43 shots by the Westleys.
The Chiefs have one game on the road this week against the Prince Albert Timberjaks on Thursday, October 15. Their next game will not be until Wednesday, October 21 when they host the Saskatoon Quakers at the Martensville Sports Centre at 8 p.m.
Martensville Chiefs’ skater Reid Wotherspoon and Saskatoon Westleys’ player Owen Wildeboer go for the puck during the first period of their match at the Martensville Sports Centre on October 7. The Chiefs won this game 5-1, handing the Westleys their first loss of the regular season.
Luc Fortier (No. 26) moves to line up a shot on Saskatoon’s net.
Two Chiefs players — Luc Fortier and Turner Krahn — give each other a joyous hug after scoring in the first period.