Warriors, Blades tied 1-1; Bombers cut series deficit
It's been a tight start to the Western Hockey League's Eastern Conference final between the Moose Jaw Warriors and Saskatoon Blades.
After Moose Jaw came away with a 4-3 overtime win thanks to a goal from Brayden Yager on Friday night in Game 1, Saskatoon replied with a 3-2 overtime win the next night in Game 2 with Fraser Minten scoring the winner to tie the best-of-seven final 1-1.
The Warriors held a 2-0 lead after the first period in Game 2, but Saskatoon evened it up in the second period before the teams played a scoreless third period.
The series will now shift to Moose Jaw with Game 3 set for Tuesday night, followed by Game 4 on Wednesday.
BOMBERS FIGHTING BACK
After finding themselves down 3-0 in the Saskatchewan Junior
Hockey League best-of-seven championship series, the Flin Flon Bombers won two straight games again the Melfort Mustangs to cut the series lead to 3-2.
After Melfort took a commanding lead in the series with a 4-3 double overtime last Wednesday, the Bombers kept their hopes alive with a 4-3 overtime win the following night.
Then on Saturday, Flin Flon got back into the series with a 5-2 win.
Game 6 of the series is set for Tuesday night in Melfort, where the Mustangs have a chance to win the SJHL'S Canterra Seeds Cup on home ice. If necessary, Game 7 will be played Friday night in Flin Flon.
RIOT DROP OPENER
The Regina Riot kicked off their 2024 Western Women's Canadian Football League schedule on Sunday at Leibel Field.
But it was the defending league champion Saskatoon Valkyries coming out on top 16-9.
The Valkyries led 7-0 after the first quarter, 12-0 at halftime and 19-0 after the third quarter before Regina finally got on the board in the fourth quarter.
Next up for the Riot is a road trip to Winnipeg on May 11 where they will take on the Manitoba Fearless. Regina will then visit Saskatoon on May 18 before hosting Manitoba on May 26.
MITSUING DIES
Former chuckwagon driver Ray Mitsuing, named earlier this month as a 2024 inductee into the Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame, has died at age 70.
Mitsuing was a seven-time Canadian Professional Chuckwagon Association champion during his 37-year career. He started driving chariots in the 1970s, advanced to chuckwagons in the 1980s and became a regular competitor at the Calgary Stampede before retiring in 2019. Mitsuing was a chief of the Makwa Sahgaiehcan First Nation.
According to news reports, emergency services were called to a residence Thursday on the First Nation and Mitsuing was non-responsive.
Mitsuing attended the Hall's official announcement April 9 in Regina. He will be inducted posthumously during the Sept. 28 ceremony at Regina's Conexus Arts Centre.
WATER POLO AWARDS
Three Saskatchewan water polo athletes have been recognized for their efforts during the recent National Champions League 17U Western Conference Finals.
On the women's side, Riley Milne — who was the tournament's top scorer — and Natalia Blazevic were named to the all-star team while Leo Boutin receives all-star honours on the men's side.
The gold medal-winning women's team and the fourth-place men's team also qualified for the national championship, which will be held May 24 to 26 in Montreal.