The La Ronge Ice Wolves scored three third period goals, including two in the final minute, erasing a 6-3 deficit before going on to beat the Flin Flon Bombers 7-6 (OT) on Saturday night.
The Ice Wolves (21-14-2-2) had a near-perfect December, going 6-0-1 during the month, and are 7-0-1 in their last eight games, in sole possession of fourth place overall at the Christmas break.
Aaron Greyeyes tied Saturday’s game with eight seconds left, AND scored the overtime winner, finishing off a four point (2g-2a) night. Daylon Mannon added two goals, giving him 25 goals at Christmas. Jordan Mish had three helpers, while James Philpott (1g-1a), Jake Gudjonson and Kevin Fillier added goals.
Donavan Houle-Villeneuve played his first game in two weeks for the Bombers (23-8-5-0), leading them with two goals and an assist on Saturday. Reid Robertson (1g-1a), Easton Haygarth, Chase Haygarth and Jaeden Mercier rounded out the scoring.
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Ross Hawryluk made 24 saves for his third shutout this season, and the Nipawin Hawks snapped a five game losing streak, going into the break with a 2-0 shutout over Melfort at home.
After a scoreless first period, Austen Flaman and Jeremy Bisson scored second period goals for the Hawks (18-16-2-0) and Carson Erhardt helped set up both.
The win leaps Nipawin a point past Humboldt into 6th place overall at the break.
Shawn Parkinson stopped 30/32 shots in goal for the Mustangs (21-12-2-1), who slip from a third place tie, into fifth spot with the loss, with a seven point cushion over Nipawin.
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Chantz Petruic and the Taphorn twins combined for 10 points, as the Yorkton Terriers picked up a 5-2 victory in Estevan.
Petruic had two goals and two assists, and hits the Christmas break with more than a goal per game, and more than two points per game, with 44-goals and 79-points through 39-games. There are seasons this decade where 79-points would have captured the regular season scoring race, and Petruic has 19 games remaining.
Keenan Taphorn added a goal and three assists on Saturday, and his brother Kaeden scored twice. Ryan Ouelette stopped 37/39 shots in goal for the Terriers (23-15-1-0), who sit alone in third spot overall.
Eddie Gallagher scored both goals for the Bruins (13-17-2-1).
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Most SJHL teams are now on their holiday breaks until January, while a pair of home and home series’ will kick off on December 30th, with Yorkton and Melville, and Estevan and Weyburn both meeting Dec/30 and Jan/1. Everyone else is off until at least January 3rd. Teams’ breaks vary in length, as Yorkton has just 8 days off between games, while Melville’s already been off for more than a week, and will have 16 days off before suiting up on the 30th. Notre Dame is the only team that won’t play during the first weekend in January. The Hounds are off until Tuesday, January 7th when they visit Humboldt.