Blades swap victories with Moose Jaw Warriors
It was a strong start for the Saskatoon Blades on Saturday night against the host Moose Jaw Warriors as the visitors were up 3-0 after the first period thanks to a single goal from Fraser Minten and a pair from Easton Armstrong.
That start didn’t carry into the final two periods, however, as the Warriors went on to score four goals in the second period and another two in the third to walk away with the 6-3 victory.
Three of those goals, including an empty netter, were scored by Moose Jaw’s Jagger Firkus.
Austin Elliott made 22 saves on 27 shots while in net for the Blades for the majority of the game, with teammate Evan Gardner picking up one save on one shot while in action for 49 seconds at the end of the second period.
On the other end of the ice, Jackson Unger was the Warriors’ starting goalie, stopping 9-of-12, before being replaced near the end of the first period by Dimitri Fortin, who went 24-for-24 the rest of the way.
The Blades were on the opposite side of the score on Friday night when they posted a 6-3 victory while hosting the Warriors.
STARS DOWN IN SEMIS
A 2-1 loss to the Notre Dame Hounds on Saturday night in Game 1 has the Saskatoon Stars down one game in their best-of-three semifinal series in the Saskatchewan Female U18 AAA Hockey League.
Game 2 of the series will be played Monday night.
The Stars made their way to the semis after sweeping the Weyburn Gold Wings 2-0 in the quarterfinals.
In the other semifinal, the Regina Rebels earned a 5-4 win over the Battlefords Sharks in Game 1.
PJHL CONFERENCE FINALS
The Saskatoon Westleys took a 1-0 lead in their best-of-seven Prairie Junior Hockey League North final series Saturday, defeating the Saskatoon Quakers 6-4.
Both teams earned their way to the final after winning their respective best-of-seven semifinals 4-2, with the Westleys upsetting the Saskatoon Royals and the Quakers defeating the Delisle Chiefs.
In the South final series, the Regina Capitals won 8-5 over the Pilot Butte Storm to take Game 1.
Game 2 of both series will be played on Monday night.
REGINA PAT CANADIANS AWAIT OPPONENT
After sweeping the Swift Current Legionnaires 3-0 in their best-offive semifinal series, the Regina Pat Canadians are headed to the Saskatchewan Male AAA Hockey League final. Their opponent will be either the Saskatoon Blazers or the Tisdale Trojans.
Following a 3-0 victory on Friday night, the Blazers held a 2-0 series lead with Game 3 set to be played on Sunday evening in Saskatoon.
SJHL PLAYOFFS SET
Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League regular season action wrapped up on Saturday night and now the best-of-seven quarterfinals are set, with action to begin later this week.
The No. 1 Flin Flon Bombers, who finished the season11 points ahead of any other team, take on the No. 8 Kindersley Klippers, while the No. 2 Melfort Mustangs will battle the No. 7 Estevan Bruins. The No. 3 Humboldt Broncos will face the No. 6 Weyburn Red Wings, and the No. 4 Battlefords North Stars will compete against the No. 5 Melville Millionaires.