WEYBURN, SK: Jaxon Ruthven and Ethan Dekay scored hattricks, and Angelo Zol stopped 45 of 49 as the Weyburn Red Wings defeated the Yorkton Terriers 6-4.
In the first period’s early stages, the Terriers came prepared to play, outshooting the Red Wings 7-0 in the first 10 minutes.
However, Weyburn drew first blood, as Jaxon Ruthven had a puck go off his skate and past Ethan Farrow for a 1-0 lead.
The visitors would respond immediately.
Captain Jaron Desnoyers made a pretty move around the Red Wings defender and found a wide-open Dustin Renas, and he roofed it past the outstretched Angelo Zol, tying the game at 1-1. The goal was Renas’ fourth of the season.
The Terriers nearly took the lead as Jye Zawatsky dashed on a breakaway and was hauled down, but no arm went up, and the puck stayed out.
The Terriers continued to ramp up the pressure late in the first and were rewarded with two powerplays. Despite some good zone time, the powerplay units could not convert.
In the middle frame, there was a flurry of goals.
First, it was Keenan Ingram on the man advantage sneaking one short side on Zol for his 4th of the season. Desnoyers and Briltz picked up assists.
Like the Terriers in the first period, the Wings would respond quickly as 57 seconds later, Ruthven beat Farrow with a deke on a breakaway, tying the game at 2-2.
The Wings would grab their second lead of the hockey game past the midway point of the period when Ethan Dekay threw a shot on goal from the boards and found its way past Farrow for a 3-2 lead.
The Terriers would connect on the powerplay 1:47 later as Ingram found a streaking Bryce Dahl, and he beat Zol for his first SJHL goal.
Then, after a neutral zone turnover, Ruthven snapped his third of the evening past Farrow, giving the Wings a 4-3 lead.
The Terriers went 2/3 on the powerplay in the middle frame and outshot the Wings 13-11.
The Terriers had ample opportunities to tie the game in the third period. First, it was Vinay Junek on a breakaway, but he hit the post.
Then, the top line nearly cashed in after Desnoyers found Hammond in the slot, but he was denied.
The Wings would add to their lead off the rush as Ethan Dekay would pot his second of the night, giving the home side a 5-3 lead.
The Terriers would get back within one with the goalie on the bench as Palin snuck backdoor for his second of the season. Coyle picked up the lone assist.
The Terriers nearly tied the game with the goaltender on the bench again. First, Ingram was stopped in tight, then Hammond was robbed at the side of the net, preserving the lead for the Red Wings.
Weyburn would add an empty netter as Ethan Dekay capped off the hattrick for a 6-4 lead.
The Terriers outshot Red Wings 49-30 but fell to 6-2 on the season. They will be back in action on Wednesday in Estevan.
