Bray Turns The Trick!

It was a big divisional match up in the Sherwood tonight as the Weyburn Red Wings welcomed the Kindersley Klippers to town. The Klippers got things started in the first period as they scored at the 11:19 mark with Jonathan Redlick receiving a beautiful pass from Brett Leedahl and burying the puck past a sprawling AJ Whiffen. Ryan Sawka also assisted on the goal. The score would remain 1-0 until late in the second period when Josh Bray shot a howitzer from the point on the power play that I don't think Klippers goaltender Ryan Nieszner even saw. Stephen Simms and Torrey Lindsay assisted on the goal. Bray's night was not done there as he scored a power play goal again at the 10:07 mark of the second period from Simms. Bray then scored the natural hat trick goal with a 1:36 to go in regulation. He and Brayden Nargang broke out on a 2 and 1. Nargang took the original shot and Bray was on the spot for the rebound as the hats hit the ice. Michael Seib added an empty netter with 30 seconds to go as he snuck in behind the Klippers defense and took the long feed from defenseman Connor Krukowski. Nick Needham also assisted on the empty netter. With just five seconds to go, Redlick managed to score his second of the game from Scott Linnell and Sawka. Matt Sawa of the Klippers took an uncharacteristic 5 minor penalties in the game as he was responsible for more than half of the Klippers shorthanded situations. AJ Whiffen continued his unbelievable play in the Red Wing goal as he made 30 saves on the night. Klippers goaltender Ryan Nieszner also played very well and had an identical 30 saves. The Wings grab a share of first place in the Sherwood for the time being but Melville does have four games in hand. The Wings and Mils will duke it out tomorrow night at the old barn in Melville. The Wings are now 13-8-1-2 while the Klippers drop to 12-9-0-2.

In Flin Flon, the Yorkton Terriers were looking to keep pace with the Wings and Millionaires and create a logjam for first, but were defeated by the hometown Bombers 4-1. Tommy Castonguay and Dennis Kubat each had a goal and an assist to lead Flin Flon. Cole Wilson and Barrett Penner also scored for the Bombers. Korey Gursky, Robert Beaudry, David Linsley, Reid MacLeod, Pierre-Luc Boucher and Michael Young all added assists for the Bombers. Kevin Stringfellow got the lone Terriers goal with assists going to Carter Smith and Scott Jackson. Carsen Chubak made the start for the Bombers and turned aside 25 of 26 shots. Joel Danyluk gave Lynden Sammartino a rare night off and he was busy as he turned aside 40 shots and was named the game's third star in Flin Flon. The Bombers move ahead of La Ronge for third in the Itech as they are now 12-8-0-1. The Terriers fall to 12-8-1-2.

Meanwhile no one can seem to knock off the Melfort Mustangs of late as they posted a 5-3 win over the Nipawin Hawks tonight on home ice. Kyle Fraser was named the game's first star as he picked up three assists. Riley Clark had a goal and an assist for the Mustangs. Donavon Chow, Brady Gordon, Bo Lenard and Clint Olson also scored for Melfort. Adam Schwark led the way for Nipawin with a goal and an assist. Cody Wutzke and Torrie Dyck also scored for Nipawin. Ilia Ejov was not overly busy as he stopped 15 of 18 shots in 60 minutes of action. Antoine Desrosiers got the start for the Hawks but was pulled after allowing four goals on 12 shots. Derek Kleinsteuber cleaned up and allowed one goal on nine shots. The Mustangs improve to 14-7-0-1 while the Hawks have fallen to 8-11-0-1.

Tonight's Three Stars:

* Josh Bray - Weyburn Red Wings (natural hat trick, game winner)
** Kyle Fraser - Melfort Mustangs ( three assists)
*** Tommy Castonguay - Flin Flon Bombers (goal and an assist, game winner)

- Brad M.