The Weyburn Petro Bakken Wings played the Notre Dame Hounds in round two of playoffs and although the Hounds pushed them to the limit the Wings came out on top winning the series two games to one.
Having finished second in their league, the Wings had home ice advantage for the series and hosted the Hounds on March 13th. The Wings had a slow start in the contest and found themselves trailing 5-1 by the end of the second period. Scoring the Wings' only goal in the first 40 minutes was Kolten Cleasby with assists going to Cole Sjostrand and Lyndon Lumb. In the third period, the Wings came out with a very strong effort, scoring three goals to cut the deficit to one, but that was as close as they would come as the Hounds took a one game lead with a 5-4 victory. Scoring in the third for the Wings were Braden Mellon, Brayden Ganson and Jack Carleton on a penalty shot. Assisting on the third period goals were Donovan Lumb, Tucker Neuberger and Sjostrand. Billy Cuthbert had the loss in net for the Wings.
With their Season on the line the Wings travelled to Wilcox on March 16th and battled hard to even the series at one game apiece. The Wings won the first period, outscoring the Hounds 2-1, with goals coming from Neuberger and Cleasby, with assists to Daniel Fellner, Sjostrand and Brayden Leslie. The second period saw the Hounds score twice, while Weyburn could only reply with one off of the stick of Carleton, with Neuberger and Mellon assisting. In the third period, Weyburn came out on a mission and took the lead just four and a half minutes into the period and never looked back. They scored two more times in the period, while the Hounds could only reply with one, making the final score 6-4 for the Wings. Kyle Crozier, L. Lumb and Cleasby all tallied in the third with assists to Lance Tendler, Sjostrand and Carleton. Terrick Wilderman picked up the win for the Wings.
Having forced game three, the Wings welcomed the Hounds into Crescent Point Place on March 18th. The Hounds took a one-goal lead into the dressing room after 20 minutes in what was a slow start for the Wings. In the second period, Weyburn came out rejuvenated and score twice but also let Notre Dame put two more on the board. Second period goals came from Carleton and Neuberger with Leslie and Donovan Lumb assisting. In the third period, the Wings tied up the contest four minutes in, with D. Lumb beating the Hounds' net-minder with assists to Jacob Eger and Fellner. At the halfway mark of the third, Weyburn put the final nail in the coffin of the Hounds. Again, it was D.Lumb being in the right spot and putting back a rebound past the Hounds' goalie and assisting on the game winner was Eger. The Hounds pulled their goalie with just under two minutes to play in the contest. Although they had a few good scoring chances, the Wings held to take the series with a score of 4-3. Terrick Wilderman was the winning goalie for the Wings.
The Wings will now wait to find out who they will play in the South Saskatchewan Hockey League final and will either open up game one on the road in Swift Current or Host Lumsden for the first game depending on the outcome of that series.
