The Weyburn Red Wings are already coming together as a team after their fall camp and pre-season games, according to head coach Wes Rudy.
“We had a good look at everyone who was at the fall camp and had a chance to narrow out the roster a bit,” said Rudy. “It looks like we will have a fast, skilled team this year. The young guys are already gelling well with the veterans.”
The Red Wings completed their pre-season action with a home-and-home series against their Highway 39 rivals, the Estevan Bruins. The Red Wings lost both games, falling 5-4 at home on Saturday and 5-2 in Estevan on Friday.
During the Saturday night home game, Estevan scored the first goal of the game, but then Cole Woodliffe tied up the game with a goal scored nearly two minutes later. In the second period, Estevan scored their second of the night, followed by Derick Smith scoring a power play goal to tie up the game for Weyburn. In the last few minutes of the second period, Estevan took the lead with their third goal.
In the third period, a powerplay goal by Jeremy Velazquez tied up the game once again. However, Estevan scored two back-to-back goals to regain their lead. Tyran Brown scored the fourth goal for the Red Wings.
During the Friday night away game, the Red Wings got on the board first, with a goal scored by Smith, and Estevan scored twice in the first period. Smith scored his second goal of the night early in the second period, but once again Estevan came back strong by scoring two goals. Estevan added a fifth goal in the third period to claim the win.
Earlier in pre-season action, the Red Wings won 7-1 over the Waywayseecappo Wolves during a game played on September 6. Both teams scored in the first period, with Dawson Atamanchuk scoring first for the Red Wings. Then the Red Wings dominated in the second and third periods, with goals scored by Noah Wozney, Brown, Devon Becker, Atamanchuk, Landon Walters and Jeremy Velazquez.
The Red Wings also had a pre-season game against the Notre Dame Hounds on September 5, losing 2-1. Notre Dame scored once in the first period and once in the second period. Jamieson Ree scored the lone Red Wings goal in the third period.
The Red Wings open the regular season with a home game against the Yorkton Terriers at Crescent Point Place, on Friday, September 15 at 7:30 p.m. Then as part of a home-and-home series, the Red Wings will be in Yorkton for another game against the Terriers on Sunday, September 17.
