TURTLEFORD - The Redvers Rockets are the Hockey Saskatchewan Senior D provincial champions.
Redvers defeated the Edam Three Stars 5-3 on March 30 in Turtleford to win the best-of-three provincial championship in three games.
The Three Stars led 1-0 after the first in Game 3. Oliver Poirier scored 32 seconds into the second to tie the game, but Edam restored the lead a few minutes later. Goals by Kenton Miller and Poirier gave Redvers a 3-2 lead after 40 minutes.
Edam tied the game again midway through the third, but Drew Hoff scored what proved to be the winning goal with 5:15 to play in the third, and Naton Miller added an insurance marker with 83 seconds remaining.
Thomas Bauche was the winning goal.
Edam forced Game 3 with a 3-2 victory the night before in Turtleford – the only time the Rockets lost in regulation this season. The two teams were scoreless after the first period and Edam scored in the second to lead 1-0 after two. Edam added another in the third to lead by two, but goals by Koltyn Miller and Jordyn Miller tied the game. Edam scored the winner with less than five minutes to play in the third.
Bauche was in goal for Redvers.
According to Hockey Saskatchewan's website, it's the first provincial championship for a Big Six Hockey League team since the Weyburn Devils won the senior AAA title in 2006.
The win capped a nearly flawless season for the Rockets. They had the best record in the Big Six during the regular season at 14-0-2, and then they went 9-0 in the league's playoffs to win the championship for the second time in three seasons.
They also went 4-1 in provincial play, with their only loss coming in Game 2.
More to come.
