It was a pair of overtime losses but the Yorkton AAA Midget Maulers did add two points as they try to climb the Saskatchewan AAA Midget Hockey League standings.
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Following the two ties the Maulers record sits at 14-13-1-3 for 32 points for sixth spot in the league, three points behind fifth place Swift Current. Regina leads the league with 53 points, followed by the Notre Dame Hounds at 51, Prince Albert with 48 and Tisdale at 46.
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Saturday it took the Maulers only 41-seconds to open the scoring as Beau Stevenson found the twine behind Prince Albert netminder Cale Elder who would eventually face 25-shots in the game.
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Jaxon Tait scored to tie the game for the visiting Mintos, and Kishaun Gervais would give them the lead with 5:57 left in the first.
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Then with only 1:07 on the clock Jordan Repsch would tie the contest 2-2 with a goal for Yorkton.
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Both the second and third periods were scoreless affairs, sending the game to overtime where Austin Lamotte would score the game-winner for Prince Albert.
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Jordan Schmuland took the loss in the Mauler net facing 28-shots.
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Sunday the teams matched up again at the Farrell Agencies Arena in Yorkton.
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The first period would be a back-and-forth affair, ending in a 2-2 tie.
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Beau Stevenson started the scoring with a marker for the hometown Maulers.
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Minto Austin Lamotte would respond to tie the game.
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Zach McIntyre would restore a one-goal lead for Yorkton, but Jaxon Taot would tie the game with 35-sceonds left in the frame.
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It was Prince Albert鈥檚 turn to take the lead in the second as Parker Fofonoff scored 1:57 into the second.
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But again the game would end up tied as McIntyre scored to leave the game 3-3 after 40-minutes.
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In the third Kade McMillen struck with 3:13 left in the contest to give the Mintos a 4-3 lead, but the Maulers were not done as Mackenzie Walkington tied the game 4-4 with one-second left on the clock.
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The game would go to overtime with Alex Moar winning it for the visitors 1:19 into extra time.
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Dakota Berezowski was in the Mauler net facing 32-shots in the loss, while Carter Woodside was the Minto goaltender facing 27-shots for the victory.
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Mauler coach Kevin Rawlick said both games were back and forth affairs that ended up in overtime.
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鈥淭hree-on-three sort of killed us,鈥� he said, adding 鈥渢hey鈥檝e (PA) got a highly skilled team,鈥� and the Mintos won out both days.
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Saturday it was a pass to the player coming off the bench on a delayed penalty that was the difference, said Rawlick.
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Sunday, after the high of tieing the game with only one-second left, the Maulers settled down quickly for OT, he said.
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鈥淚 thought they did a real good job of refocusing,鈥� said Rawlick.
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That said Rawlick was still pleased with the way the Maulers played.
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鈥淭he effort from our boys was solid,鈥� he said, adding throughout the weekend they responded whenever the Mintos took a lead.
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While both games ended in losses, looking ahead the Mintos are a potential playoff match-up for the Maulers, and Rawlick said his team would be comfortable with that if it happens.
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Up next
The Maulers next action will be Jan. 17 when they head to Regina to face the Pat Canadians.
On Saturday, Jan. 20 the Pat Canadians will again be the opposition in a game scheduled to be played in Balcarres.
