WEYBURN, SK – Jaxson Ruthven capped off a stellar night with a hat trick late in the third period, leading the Weyburn Red Wings to a 7-4 victory over the Yorkton Terriers. The loss marked the first time in over a month that the Terriers have dropped back-to-back games.
The Terriers came out firing in the opening 20 minutes, peppering Red Wings goaltender Angelo Zol with 23 shots. Despite their aggressive approach, it was the Red Wings who struck first. Jaxson Ruthven tipped a point shot past Callum Crieg during a Weyburn power play, taking advantage of Terrier forward Vinay Junek’s kneeing penalty.
Notably, this was Junek’s first game back in the lineup in 2025.
The Terriers couldn’t capitalize on their chances, going 0-for-2 on the power play in the first period, while Crieg made 12 saves to keep the deficit at 1-0.
The visitors opened the middle frame strong. Keenan Ingram broke free on a breakaway and lifted a backhander past Zol, tying the game at 1-1. It was Ingram’s 22nd goal of the season.
However, the Red Wings responded with a flurry of offense, scoring three unanswered goals. Ruthven notched his second of the night, beating Crieg on the short side. Moments later, Blake Betson found space in the slot and fired one past Crieg to restore Weyburn’s lead. Liam Fitzgerald then added another, extending the Red Wings’ advantage to 4-1.
The Terriers answered back 2:18 later. Jeff Hammond converted a pass from David Coyle, beating Zol blocker-side to cut the lead to 4-2. But the Red Wings weren’t finished. Cyprus Smith-Davis slipped one past Crieg, making it 5-2 heading into the final frame.
Weyburn outshot Yorkton 13-10 in the second period.
The Terriers showed signs of life early in the third, as Tyler Palin redirected a shot past Zol for his eighth goal of the season, narrowing the deficit to 5-3.
The teams traded goals shortly thereafter. Weyburn’s Luke Dekay and Yorkton’s Ingram both found the back of the net, maintaining the Red Wings’ two-goal lead.
Ruthven put the game out of reach in the final minute, completing his hat trick with a power-play goal to secure Weyburn’s 7-4 victory.
Crieg finished the night with 25 saves in the loss.
The Terriers will now shift their focus to the defending Champs as they tangle with the Mustangs on the road Saturday evening.
