Shuper Duper Win for Wings!

WEYBURN 3, ESTEVAN 2

The Weyburn Red Wings started off 2008 just like they ended 2007, with a victory over the arch-rival Estevan Bruins this afternoon at the Civic Auditorium in Estevan.

Josh Bray, with his 20th of the season, got the Wings on the board at the 9:16 mark of the first period after being sent in on a breakaway pass by defenseman Kyle Haines. Bray snuck it over the outstreched body of Bruins goaltender David Ritz to make it 1-0. The Bruins then tied the game at the 17:55 mark of the first after a questionable too many men on the ice call was made against the Wings. Kyle Stroh picked up the power play marker with Payden Benning and Colton MacPherson getting the assists. The Wings would regain the lead with a power play goal from Preston Shupe at the 3:17 mark of the second period. Rhett Bly and Torrey Lindsay assisted on the goal. Shupe was not done there as he would put the Wings up 3-1 at the 12:51 mark of the third after stealing the puck while short-handed off of an Estevan defender in the Bruins zone. He then proceeded to deke out Ritz to make it 3-1. The Bruins would make things closer at 19:42 of the third as Kyle Garagan cut the lead to one. However theat would be too little too late as the Wings pick up the 3-2 win. Benning and Stroh assisted on Garagan's goal. AJ Whiffen got help with his save percentage figures today as somehow the shotkeepers in Estevan had the final shots at 44-20 in favor of the Bruins. Whiffen had an unbelievable save in the third period which helped in solidifying the lead in the third period.

Game notes: Eric Calibaba returned from the injured list and played on a line with Scott Doody and Nick Needham.............. Stephen Simms moved to forward for his second consecutive game and did not look out of place on a line with Josh Bray and Brayden Nargang........ There were 869 fans in attendance in Estevan today...... Weyburn went 1/4 on the power play, the Bruins were 1/10............. Favorite quote from pre-game interviews - Kevin Smith asked Karry Biette during his coaches interview what kind of changes the Bruins would be making for the game - Biette's answer was that the biggest change would be a different referee for this game. Seems Biette was a bit perturbed by referee Chad Marshall on Saturday night. All I can say that if Biette was mad on Saturday he should have been ecstatic tonight as his team had twice as many power play opportunities. Unfortunately for him, the Bruins power play was not very successful this afternoon........ Nice to see a big contingent of fans from Weyburn today......... Wings return to action on Friday night when they host the Kindersley Klippers. Should be a dandy with the Wings currently holding a four point lead over the second place Klippers.


Melville 4 Yorkton 1

The two teams were also playing the second half of a home and home and the Melville Millionaires would copy the Weyburn Red Wings and complete the two game sweep.

The Terriers opened the scoring at 8:59 of the second period as Rylan McDonell picked up the goal from Kyle Block and Chris Cook. However it would be all Melville after that as the Millionaires scored 4 goals within a 5:30 span. Dion Campbell, Levi Lind, Bryant Dyke and Kale Dolinski all scored for Melville. Brad Johnston added two assists for Melville. Derek Edwards, Jordan Reeve, Matt Kinnunen and Dolinski all added assists for the Mils. Kyle Cantlon made his second straight start for the Mils and stopped 31 Yorkton shots. Lynden Sammartino started for the Terriers and surrendered three goals on only 14 shots. Joel Danyluk went the rest of the way stopping 8/9. The Millionaires trail the Wings by six points in the Sherwood Conference.

- Brad M.