There will be a new champion in the Big Six Hockey League in 2020.
The Carnduff Red Devils routed last year’s champions, the Yellow Grass Wheat Kings, 8-1 in Yellow Grass Thursday night to win the best-of-five semifinal series in four games, and advance to the league final.
Mark Moriarty scored twice for Carnduff, while Trevor Geiger, Matt Audette, Sheldon Thompson, Jordan Cooney, Tanner Reynolds and Brandon Trask also scored.
Yellow Grass took Game 1 4-3 on Feb. 25, but then Carnduff rallied, winning Game 2 5-2 on March 1, and Game 3 4-3 on March 3.
The Red Devils will face either the Bienfait Coalers or the Redvers Rockets in the league final. Redvers defeated Bienfait 3-2 in overtime on March 5 in Bienfait to tie the best-of-five semifinal series at 2-2.
Jordon Miller scored the winner with 49 seconds to play in the first overtime period for the victory.
Kenton Miller and Gavin Martel also scored for Redvers, who led 2-0 early in the third before Craig Fournier and Taysen Holt scored for the Coalers.
Game 5 will be March 10 in Redvers.
Redvers took Game 1 Feb. 24, but then Bienfait won the next two: 4-0 on Feb. 27 in Bienfait and 5-2 on March 3 in Redvers. Those were the Rockets first two losses in league play since early November.
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Carnduff and Redvers are both still alive in provincial play. Carnduff advanced to the senior B south final last month after sweeping Balcarres in a best-of-three matchup.
The Red Devils will play Grenfell in the south final, with games March 7 in Grenfell, March 14 in Carnduff and, if necessary, March 15 in Carnduff.
The Rockets defeated Davidson in three games in their best of three south semifinal. After Davidson won Game 1, Redvers responded with a 4-3 victory Feb. 29, and a 5-4 overtime win on March 1. Ben Johnstone scored the winner in overtime for Redvers.
