MOOSEJAWTODAY.COM -- There’s a new leader atop the Saskatchewan Male AAA Hockey League.
The Moose Jaw WINMAR Warriors took over first place for the first time this season thanks to a come-from-behind 5-4 victory over the Regina Pat Canadians in Regina on Wednesday night.
The Warriors improved to 18-4-2 on the campaign and leapfrogged Regina into top spot, with the Pats Cs dropping to 18-5-1. The Swift Current Legionnaires are the top team in the league by winning percentage thanks to their 18-4-0 record and two games in hand on the leaders.
The first period was all about special teams, with each of the three goals in the frame scored on the power play.
Jonah Sivertson got things started 3:43 into the game, but Keaton Lesperance responded for Moose Jaw just over three minutes later and Carson Deichert would give the visitors the lead with 6:20 remaining in the opening period.
Things went Regina’s way in the second, as Nathan Gardiner tied the game at the 7:17 marker and Sivertson struck on the man advantage with 7:40 to play to make it a 3-2 game.
Siverston then finished off his hat trick with his third power-play goal of the game 40 seconds into the third, and things looked to be going comfortably in Regina’s favour.
It took the Warriors all of 2:30 to change all that.
Keaton Lesperance got the Warriors back within one with 4:13 gone in the period, Max Fuessel tied things up 2:21 later and 23 seconds after that goal, Deichert restored the Warriors lead.
There things would remain until the end of the game, and the Warriors had their dramatic win.
Diechert also had an assist and finished with three points, while Ryan Gibbs picked up three assists and remains in second in SMAAAHL in scoring. Fuessel also had two points.
League scoring leader and potential WHL exceptional status player Maddox Schultz had two assists while Eli Johnson also had a pair of helpers.
Luke McKechnie had 33 saves in the Moose Jaw net, Regina’s Taylor Tabashniuk made 19 saves.
The WINMAR Warriors are back in action Saturday when they travel to Saskatoon to face the Contacts, Regina returns to the ice Friday when they host the Warman Wildcats.
