The Redvers Rockets and the Yellow Grass Wheat Kings grabbed early series leads in their respective Big Six Hockey League semifinal series.
The Rockets defeated the Bienfait Coalers 8-5 in Redvers Monday night to lead 1-0 in their series. Redvers led 4-1 after the first period and 7-2 after two. After the Rockets made it an 8-2 game early in the third, Bienfait responded with the final three goals of the game.
Brady Gaudet scored twice for Redvers, while Kenton Miller, Travis Dumaine, Austin Dufresne, Brady Fidierchuk, Braden Magatiaux and Kelsey Kenler also scored.
Cody Matthewson was in goal for the Rockets.
Taysen Holt had two goals for the Coalers. Dylan Herzberg, Keegan Malaryk and Wyatt Garagan also scored.
Game 2 is scheduled for Thursday night in Bienfait.Â
As for the Wheat Kings, they edged the Carnduff Red Devils 4-3 in Carnduff Tuesday night. Troy Miller’s second of the game in the third period was the winner.
All of the remaining scoring came in the second period. Shelby Gray and Kyle Mryglod had Yellow Grass’ other goals.
Shawn Gallant had two goals for Carnduff. Brandon Trask had the other Red Devils goal.
Tanner Erickson was the goalie for Yellow Grass, while Cody Dumaine was in net for Carnduff.
Game 2 in that series is set for March 1, and Game 3 will be March 3.
The semifinals are best-of-five series.
In provincial play, the Rockets are down 1-0 in their best of three senior C south semifinal series against Davidson, after Davidson took Game 1 Feb. 22 in Davidson.
Game 2 will be Feb. 29 in Redvers, and Game 3, if necessary, would be March 1 in Redvers.
The Carnduff Red Devils advanced in their Senior B south semfinal against Balcarres with a 5-2 win Feb. 22 in Carnduff to win the best-of-three series in two straight.
The Red Devils will now play Grenfell in the south final, which is also a best-of-three. Dates had not been released as of Wednesday morning.
