Mils Draw First Blood!

After what seemed like an eternity, the SJHL Sherwood conference final got under way this evening in Melville as the Millionaires hosted the Kindersley Klippers in Game 1.

Melville would open up a 3-0 lead through the first period on the the strength of two goals from Kale Dolinski as well as a goal from Levi Lind. The Klippers would get on the board 4:48 into the second period as Kirk Pearce buried his third goal of the playoffs from Matt Sawa and Casey Rempel. Exactly one minute later, Chris Shudo would regain the three goal lead for the Mils as he notched an unassisted marker to make it 4-1. The Millionaires would then take a commanding 5-1 lead as Dion Campbell scored a short-handed goal with assists going to Austin Krahenbil and Derek Edwards. That goal would prove huge for the Millionaires as the Klippers would score three unanswered goals in third, the last with only two seconds remaining to make things interesting. Jonathan Redlick scored two of the third period goals for the Klippers while Ryan Sawka also added a goal. Jordan Wilson, Michael Jordan, Scott Hennings and Campbell all added assists for Melville. Matt Sawa ended the night with three assists for the Klippers. Joe Rodwell picked up the win in the Melville goal where final shots were not immediately known. Matt Weninger, who was arguably Kindersley's best player in the Weyburn series, was chased from the net early tonight as he allowed three goals on 13 shots in the first 10 minutes of the game. Ryan Nieszner came in relief and allowed two goals the rest of the way. Hockey fever is strong in Melville as over 1100 fans were crammed into the old barn. The series resumes with Game 2 in Melville tomorrow night.

The Itech Conference final will get underway tomorrow night in Humboldt as the Broncos pay host to the Flin Flon Bombers.

- Brad M.