The Red Wings had a very intense start to their quarter final playoffs against the Flin Flon Bombers, starting the best-of-seven series with two home games over the weekend.
“I thought that we played really well in game one, but then that Flin Flon wanted the win more than we did for game two,” said Bryce Thoma, head coach for the Red Wings.
“The Bombers have a really good team. They played hard and they are a tough challenge for us.”
During the regular season, the Red Wings had outscored the Flin Flon Bombers, with a combined 16-9 in their five games. The two teams were separated in the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League standings by seven points.
Thoma said that he is really happy with how the Red Wings are coming together for the playoff run. “We are really happy with the players we have on the roster. They are all willing to learn and improve for the next time.”
In the opening night of the quarter final series, the Red Wings won 4-1 in front of a crowd of 872 at Crescent Point Place.
Scoring for Weyburn was opened by right-wing Tyran Brown during a power play in the last minute of the first period.
Then right at the 48-second mark of the second period, Cole Woodliffe scored a short-handed goal for Weyburn.
This was followed by two back-to-back goals for Weyburn, within seven seconds of each other, by Ian Parker and by Brown.
The Bombers scored their only goal of the game later in the second period. There were no goals scored during the third period.
Jack Burgart was in the net for the win. He stopped 34 out of 25 attempts.
Then during game two, the Flin Flon Bombers won 1-0 over the Red Wings.
There were 1,026 fans in the crowd on Saturday evening. Red Wings goaltender Jack Burgart received his Viterra Goaltender of the Year, Viterra Division MVP, and SJHL Goaltender of the Year awards.
During playoff action, neither team was able to get on the board during the first two periods of the game. Then in the third period, the Bombers scored the only goal of the game for the win.
Burgart was in net for the loss. He stopped 34 out of 35 shots.
Since during the first two games of the playoffs, Burgart had made 68 saves on 70 shots, he was named the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League goaltender of the week.
There were a few penalties taken by both teams during the two playoff games, many of which were due to fighting. A few of the fights resulted in game misconduct calls.
“That kind of stuff is going to happen in a playoff game, especially when your guys are lining up on the ice against the same players over and over again,” said Thoma.
Game three of the best-of-seven series was held Tuesday night in Flin Flon. Game four is back in Flin Flon tonight, March 23.
The Red Wings hit the road on Monday afternoon to head to Flin Flin.
Thoma said that the Bombers rink is a good one to play in. “It is a great atmosphere for a game. We are quite excited for the challenge.”
Tickets are available for purchase for game five, which will be held at Crescent Point Place on Saturday, March 26.
If necessary, game six will be held in Flin Flon on March 28, and game seven will be at Crescent Point Place on Wednesday, March 30.
