      The Carlyle PureChem Cougars rang in the New Year with their first game of 2018 on Saturday, Jan. 6, against the Oxbow Huskies.
           The first period saw the Cougars come out with the first goal by Ben Johnstone assisted by Mark Shaw and Brett Turgeon. They were answered by Oxbow with two goals, leaving Oxbow to lead 2-1 by the end of the first period.
           Heading into the second period the Cougars came out strong scoring back-to-back goals at 15:45 and 12:39. The first was by Ben Johnstone assisted by Mark Shaw, while the second was unassisted by Brett Turgeon. They were unable to stop a Huskies rush, which resulted in a goal and a tie game as the second period came to a close.
           Oxbow scored two goals in the third to take the lead 5-3. The Cougars pushed for the rest of the period scoring at 2:29 with Ben Johnstone celebrating a hat trick. They pressed on for the final two minutes, but were unsuccessful in converting opportunities ending with the Huskies winning in a close 5-4 battle.
           The action also saw a guaranteed 50/50 of $500 sponsored by Carlyle Home Hardware; while Nathan Turko is the first competitor drawn for a chance to win $25,000 on Feb. 2 sponsored by Carlyle Pharmasave.
League Leaders
           As of Monday, Jan. 8, the Carnduff Red Devils lead the Big Six League 13-2; the Flyers follow 9-2; Redvers Rockets 10-5; Yellow Grass Wheat Kings 9-4; Midale Mustangs 9-5; Bienfait Coalers 8-5; Oxbow Huskies 6-10; Carlyle PureChem Cougars 1-14; Arcola/Kisbey Combines 1-13.
Top Scorers
           Matt Audette, Carnduff – 33 pts; Devin Cobbold, Yellow Grass and Taysen Holt, Oxbow – 30 pts; Derek Cooney, Oxbow – 29 pts; Payden Benning, Bienfait, Corey Koski, Yellow Grass, Brandon Trask, Carnduff, and Dakota Rose, Redvers – 24 pts; Jordon Miller, Redvers – 23 pts.
Top Goalies
           Scott Knelsen, Wawota – 2.81 GAA; Cody Dumaine, Carnduff – 2.82 GAA; Buillaume Blouin, Wawota – 3.19.
