For the second straight year, the Bienfait Coalers have finished in first place in the Big Six Hockey League.
Entering last night's regular season finale against Redvers, the Coalers boasted a robust record of 18-2 for 36 points, putting them seven clear of the second-place Midale Mustangs.
With three games being played Tuesday, the others being Carlyle at Wawota and Carnduff at Arcola, there were still two playoff races to be decided.
Wawota (12-8) sat one point ahead of Carnduff (11-8-1) for third place, and Arcola-Kisbey (9-10-1) was tied with Redvers (9-10-1) for fifth.
Two first-round matchups are already determined: the Coalers will face the last-place Carlyle Cougars (2-16-2), while Midale (14-6-1) will play the seventh-place Oxbow Huskies (7-13-1).
Last week's scores were as follows: Feb. 5, Bienfait 8, Carnduff 3; Oxbow 3, Arcola 2. Wednesday, Wawota 6, Oxbow 5; Bienfait 7, Carlyle 6 (SO). Friday, Redvers 4, Oxbow 3. Saturday, Redvers 6, Carlyle 2.
The league scoring race was also up for grabs heading into last night's games. Bienfait's Brennan Wrigley led the league with 38 points, with teammate Lorne Tytlandsvik right behind with 37 points. Others with a shot at finishing first are Carnduff's Dan Moriarty, with 37 points, and Bienfait's Riley Tetreault, with 35.
In provincial action, Carnduff advanced to the next round in the B draw with a 7-5 win over Grenfell in Game 2 of their series on Saturday. That gave them a 12-9 series victory. Carnduff will now face Rocanville in the south semis.
Meanwhile, Arcola lost the deciding Game 3 of their A series against Lumsden 5-2, eliminating them from provincials.
On the C side, Wawota lost 5-2 to Radville in Game 2, losing their series 8-7. Overtime in the second game was needed to determine the winner.
The other Big Six team still remaining is Midale. They will face Lumsden in a best-of-three south semifinal on the A side.
