BIENFAIT - The Bienfait Coalers are on the brink of elimination in their best-of-five Big Six Hockey League semifinal series with the Moosomin Rangers.
Moosomin scored five times in the first period in a 10-2 victory Friday night in Moosomin. Taysen Holt and Klae Bayda had Bienfait’s goals.
Carter Sawchuk had two goals and two assists for Moosomin, while Brayden Holloway and Drayson Skulmoski each scored twice. Connor Fath, Drew Schiller, Jacob Piller and Jevon Schwean also scored. Bud Holloway assisted on six of the goals.
Zack Miller (Bienfait) and Levi Horn (Moosomin) were the goalies.
The following day was a 6-5 Moosomin victory in overtime. Bud Holloway scored the winner 7:20 into the second overtime period while the Rangers were short-handed. It was Holloway’s second of the game. He also added two assists. Dawson Springer, Jacob Piller, Brayden Holloway and Sawchuk also scored.
Taysen Holt had three goals for Bienfait and Kaelan Holt scored twice and chipped in two helpers. Taysen Holt’s third of the game with 61 seconds remaining in the third sent the game to overtime.
Kyler Beckett was in goal for Moosomin and Miller was Bienfait’s goalie.
Game 3 will be March 3 in Moosomin. Game 4, if necessary, would be March 5 in Bienfait and Game 5, if necessary, would be March 8 in Moosomin. Games start at 8 p.m.
This isn’t the first time the Coalers have been on the brink of elimination. In the best-of-three first-round series against the 2022 champions, the Carnduff Red Devils, the Coalers dropped the first game, but then won two straight with their season on the line.
In the other semifinal series, the Redvers Rockets hold a 1-0 series lead against the Yellow Grass Wheat Kings after a 7-2 victory Tuesday night in Redvers. Braden Mellon scored in the first and second periods to give Yellow Grass a 2-1 lead, but Redvers took over from there with four goals in 9 1/2 minutes after Mellon’s goal.
Bradey Fidierchuk scored twice, and Brady Gaudet, Jordon Miller, Braeden Magotiaux, Colby Potapinski and Kenton Miller also scored. Drew Hoff had four assists.
Cody Matthewson was in goal for Redvers, while Tanner Erickson was the Yellow Grass goalie.
Game 2 is March 1 in Yellow Grass and Game 3 is March 3 in Redvers. Both games start at 8 p.m. Dates for Games 4 and 5, if necessary, have not been announced.
In provincial play, the Rockets have advanced to the senior C south final after sweeping the Assiniboia Rebels in the best-of-three semifinal round. Redvers won Game 1 5-2 on Feb. 19 and then routed Assiniboia 9-2 on Saturday night in Redvers.
The Rockets will play either Kenaston or Langenburg in the south final.
In the senior B south final, the Carlyle Cougars lost 4-1 to Grenfell on Saturday in Grenfell. Game 2 is set for March 3 in Carlyle at 8 p.m. Game 3, if necessary, would be March 5 in Carlyle at 1 p.m.
The winner will play Wilkie or Wadena in the provincial final.
In the senior D south final, the Red Devils beat Theodore 5-3 Saturday in Theodore. Game 2 is March 4 in Carnduff at 7 p.m. and Game 3, if necessary, would be the following day in Carnduff at 2:30 p.m.
