By Craig Stein
KLIPPERS/MILLIONAIRES, MUSTANGS/WINGS FIGHT FOR POSITION; VAN OS-SHAW HITS 30
As little as a week ago, the Kindersley Klippers were chasing the Melville Millionaires for the 10th and final playoff spot, which set up an intriguing matchup between the two Friday in Kindersley, where the Klippers won their fourth straight game, beating the Millionaires 6-4, now opening up a five point lead on 11th place Melville, and even jumping a point past Notre Dame and into 9th.
Jordan Funk (2g-1a) and defenseman Josh Patrician (3a) each had three point nights to lead the Klippers (20-23-1-0). Clive Rozdeba, Drayton Thunderchief, Sam Binfet and Andrew McCann also hit the net.
The Millionaires (17-23-2-0) actually led 2-0 just over five minutes into the game. They went 2/7 on the powerplay, and three of their goals came from defensemen, as Eric Soar (1g-1a), Logan Karakochuk and Mitchell Torrens all scored, as did forward Logan Foster.
Melville’s takes on the league-leading Battlefords North Stars on Saturday, before returning to Kindersley for yet another four-point game versus the Klippers on Sunday night.
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Another key race at the forefront of Friday’s matchups saw the Melfort Mustangs opening up a road trip in Weyburn.
The Red Wings (20-21-1-4) trailed the Mustangs (19-19-2-4) by a single point for 6th place heading into Friday’s action, but came up with a big 6-3 win on home ice to hop over the Mustangs, and into that final top six position.
Carson Rose had his first career multi-goal game for Weyburn, and it was a hat trick, and an assist. In fact it was a natural hat trick and he had that wrapped up just over five minutes into the second period, giving the Wings a 3-0 lead at the time. Rose (3g-1a), Jacob Wozney (3a) and Braden Mellon (2a) combined for nine points. Erik Olson (1g-1a), Tyran Brown and Landon Walters also scored and Carter Phair returned to the net making 32/35 saves.
Reed Gunville scored twice for Melfort and Justin Ball added the other. The Mustangs are in Estevan on Saturday.
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Chris Van Os-Shaw became the first SJHL player to hit the 30-goal plateau Friday, and he surpassed it, scoring twice and adding one assist, giving him 31 goals on the year in the Humboldt Broncos’ 5-2 win over Yorkton.
Trevor Posch added a goal and two assist and Logan Schatz had 1g-1a as that line put up 4-goals and 8-points. Defenseman Connor Swystun also had a goal and an assist and Garrett Mason made 21/23 saves in goal for the Broncos (24-19-0-1).
Jared Legien and Dakota Odgers each had a goal and an assist for the Terriers (20-22-3-0), who remain 8th in the overall standings, a point back of Melfort.
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