Red Wings hit 30-win mark

Western concludes regular season with road victory

SUMMERSIDE – The first-place Arsenault’s Fish Mart Western Red Wings are entering the Island Junior Hockey League playoffs on a winning note.

The Red Wings trimmed the host Eastern Maniacs 7-2 on Friday night to complete the 2018-19 regular season at 30-4-2 (wonlost-overtime losses). The Wings will face the Maniacs in one bestof-seven semifinal series, which will open in Souris on Friday at 8 p.m. The Red Wings will regain home-ice advantage by hosting the next two games at the Evangeline Recreation Centre on Sunday, March 17, at 2:15 p.m., and Tuesday, March 19, at 7:30 p.m.

The other semifinal series will feature the second-place Kensington Moase Plumbing and Heating Vipers taking on the third-place Sherwood-Parkdale A&S Scrap Metal Metros. No dates have been for that series.

At the Eastern Kings Sportsplex in Souris, Isaac Callaghan’s hat trick sparked Western’s offence. Silas Handrahan (1-2), Connor Morrissey (1-2), Chasse Gallant (1-1) and Austin Taylor also lit the lamp while Isaac Knox and Chandler Wood each contributed two assists.

Nick Steele and Chris Sear each had a goal and an assist for the Maniacs (5-29-1).

The Red Wings held period leads of 2-0 and 4-2.

Winning goaltender was Bronson Banks, and each team registered 30 shots on goal.