Wings Pressure late but drop Selection Series Opener to Klippers!

Bus legs were not an issue for the Kindersley Klippers on Friday night as they opened up the Sherwood Conference selection series with a 3-2 win over the Red Wings.

The Klippers would score first as Brett Leedahl and Casey Rempel sneaking in behind the Red Wings defense for a 2 on 0 breakaway which saw Leedahl feather over a beauty pass to Rempel for the goal. Scott Linnell also assisted on the marker. Rempel would pick up his second of the night with a power play marker at the 16:37 mark of the first to put the Klippers up 2-0. Kirk Pearce and Mat Olson assisted on the goal.

The Klipper would take a 3-0 lead just under 5 minutes into the second period after Jayde Dunser took a harmless looking shot which seemed to change directions and fool Wings goaltender AJ Whiffen. Leedahl and Justin Perreaux assisted on the goal. The Wings however would capitalize on the power play just under 10 minutes later as Stephen Simms wound up his great shot from the point to put the Wings on the board. Rhett Bly and Preston Shupe picked up the assists. The Wings would cut the lead to one with a shorthanded goal at the 7:41 mark of the third. Brayden Nargang came streaking into the Kindersley zone and used great patience as he feathered a pinching Simms with a beautiful pass to make it 3-2. Josh Bray also assisted on Simms' second goal of the game. The Wings would get some pressure late but Kindersley goaltender Matt Weninger stood solid in the Klippers goal to preserve the win for Kindersley. Weninger would finish the night with 27 saves. Whiffen had some spectacular saves and kept his team in the game as he had 34 saves. There was a spirited second period scrap which featured Michael Seib of the Wings and Justin Wilkinson of the Klippers. Kyle Haines left the game late in the second period after going awkwardly into the board as he was tied up with the Klippers Ben Ritchie. Haines did not return and his immediate status was not known at the end of the game. The Wings look to get back on track when they host the Melville Millionaires on Tuesday night at the Colosseum. The Klippers will be in Melville tomorrow night as they look to take a stranglehold on the selection series.

In Estevan, the Yorkton Terriers got a dynamite performance from Lynden Sammartino and re-discovered their offense as they pounded the Bruins 7-1. The true star of the game was Sammartino who made an unbelievable 61 saves. Kevin Stringfellow scored twice for the Terriers. Ken Petkau and Bryan Hull each had a goal and an assist. Corey Silverson, Chris Cook and Kyle Block also scored for the Terriers. Defenseman Jordan Pawelec had a big night as he chipped in with four assists. Derek Serdachny added two assists with single helpers going to Kirk Byczynski and Rylan McDonell. Brody Haygarth scored the lone goal for the Bruins with assists going to Brant Harris and Riley Hughes. Karsten Felske was chased from the Bruins goal after allowing six goals on 36 shots in just over two periods of play. David Ritz came in for relief and stopped 9 of 10 shots. The Terriers take a 1-0 lead in the series as the series shifts to Yorkton for Game 2 on Sunday night.

The game of the night was in La Ronge tonight as the host Ice Wolves got by the visiting Nipawin Hawks 3-2 in double overtime. There were less than three minutes to play in the fifth period as Everette Lerner ended the game with a weird angle shot that alluded Hawks goaltender Derek Kleinsteuber. Lerner and Adam Moar would each get a goal and two assists for the Ice Wolves. Ryan Desjarlais added a goal and an assist for the Ice Wolves. Chris Jungwirth also scored for La Ronge. Ken Neufeld, Calvin Fiddler and Joel Belair all added assists. Torrie Dyck paced the Hawks with a goal and two assists. Jordan Bourgonje and Brent Ottmann also scored for Nipawin. Blair Toms added two assists for the Hawks who also got an assist from Jordon Miller. Jonathan Jobin made 50 saves for the win. Kleinsteuber was just as impressive as he stopped 62 of 66 shots he faced in almost five periods of hockey. The Ice Wolves take a 1-0 series lead as the series moves to Nipawin for Game 2 on Sunday night.

In the Itech selection series the Flin Flon Bombers paid a visit to the Humboldt Broncos but were no match for the #1 ranked team in the CJAHL as Humboldt cruised to a 6-0 victory. Jordan Schindel had a goal and two assists to lead the way for the Broncos. Laurent Benjamin and Brady Wacker each had a goal and an assist. Matthew Kirzinger, Tanner Vandesype and Shawn Hunter also scored for Humboldt. Russ Nielsen added two assists for the Broncos. Tory Allan, Josh Garneau and Brayden Klimosko also had assists for Humboldt. Taylor Nelson started the playoffs where he left off the regular season as he made 29 saves for the shutout. Calvin Bartel made 44 saves in the Bombers goal. The Bombers get right back at it tomorrow as they will be in Melfort to battle the Mustangs.

Tonight's Three Stars:

* Lynden Sammartino - Yorkton Terriers (61 save performance leading Terriers to game one victory)
** Everette Lerner - La Ronge Ice Wolves (Three point night, winner in double overtime)
*** Derek Kleinsteuber - Nipawin Hawks (62 saves in OT loss to La Ronge)

- Brad M.