WEYBURN - The Richardson Pioneer Weyburn Red Wings are in Warman for the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League Showcase. The Red Wings earned their first win of the season, with a 5-3 victory over the Humboldt Broncos on Monday at the showcase.
Captain Dante Ballarin opened scoring for the Red Wings at the 16:31 mark in the first period, with an assist from Nikolas Sombrowski. A shorthanded goal for Weyburn was added by Brandon Kasdorf at the 19:37 mark, assisted by Cayde Augustine.
At the top of the second period, Jacob Jakusz scored the third goal for Weyburn, with assists from Sam Skillestad and Davis Chorney. Humboldt scored their first goal during a powerplay a few minutes later.
Braden Birnie scored another goal for the Wings at the 5:07 mark, with assists from Chorney and Jakusz. Later in the second period, Humboldt scored another powerplay goal to get their second of the night.
In the third period, Humboldt added their third goal of the night. The Red Wings secured the win, with a powerplay goal by Drew Kuzma, assisted by Jakob Kalin.
Joseph Young was in net for Weyburn, stopping 32 out of 35 shots on net.
They will be playing Nipawin today, October 6, in Warman at 1:30 p.m.
Weyburn forward Cooper Chisholm will start his first junior season with the Red Wings. The 18-year-old said, “It is pretty cool to play in your home town. I played minor hockey here, both years of bantam, and I am looking forward to seeing the barn packed, and being on the ice with all the fans cheering your name.”
For recently traded forward Davis Chorney, the 19-year-old said, “the boys are very tight and the team is gluing. I see nothing but bright things, especially as we get closer to May.”
Rookie Edison Weeks is an 18-year-old forward, who is “looking forward to hanging out with the guys, and winning some hockey games.”
Graham Skinner has seen a lot of progress for the team over the past three years. The 18-year-old defenseman said, “This year we are looking ecstatic and super electric. I think it will be a good season.”
The visiting Estevan Bruins ruined the season home opener for the Red Wings on October 2, coming away with a 6-3 win. The Bruins dominated the first period with four goals, including a short-handed marker.
Birnie scored the lone goal of the second period to get the Wings on the board, assisted by Shayde Peterson and Skinner. Estevan added two more in the third. The Red Wings came back with two more goals, with Chorney assisted by Ty Mason, and Ballarin on the powerplay, assisted by Ian Maier and Jakusz.
The Bruins’ net was guarded by Boston Bilous, facing 29 shots on the night, while Young was in net for the first period for the Red Wings, facing 13 shots, and Dazza Mitchell handled the last two periods, facing 16 shots.
The Red Wings rolled into the Westland Arena in Yorkton on Sept. 30 and the host Terriers came away with a 5-1 win.
The Terriers jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first period with a pair of goals 53-seconds apart. The Wings would half the lead before the first intermission with Shayde Peterson scoring at 13:38. The Terriers would manage the only marker of the middle frame, a goal at 16:45.
In the third the Terriers extended their lead with a goal at 15:29, and an unassisted goal into an empty net with 11-seconds left in the contest wrapped up the game. Young faced 40-shots allowing four goals in the loss.