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The Weyburn Red Wings started their regular season of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL) with a 5-2 loss in Yorkton.

"We played all right in the first period, where we gave up a couple two-on-ones which wasn't bad. We played an excellent second period, but then in the third period we played a few four-on-fours where they scored on us," said head coach Dwight McMillan. "It was our first league game on the road with a lot of new players, so I think we played overall all right."

Scoring in the first period for the Wings was Keegan Bruce at 1:12, with the assist from Justin Dalebozik. The other goal was taken by Shawn Cowie at 5:44 in the second period, with assists from Bruce and Ryan Whitell.

"In the first couple of periods we were doing all right, and we were able to get the nerves out in that first game. Then in the third period we were caught with our pants down and ended up losing," said Shawn Cowie. "We have a good group of players this year, with the veteran players and a large group of rookies that need to get adjusted to the style of play."

"We could have played a lot better, because we fell apart in the third period," said Dylan Coupal, first-year player. "For us new guys, there were a lot of nerves and when things started to go bad we didn't really know how to respond."

Coupal explained that the rookies are finding their position on the ice quickly, especially with "a lot of good veterans on the team, who are letting us know where to be, and lots of leaders on the team."

The lineup for the Red Wings include goaltenders Ryley Hengen and Mitch Kilgore; Dmitry Adams, Kevin Mann, Ryan Whitell, Dylan Coupal, Zane Weal, Daniel Adams, Drew George, Keegan Bruce, Jesse Ross, Justin Dalebozik, Kyle Vogel, TJ Wees, Kevin Morrison, Lucas Ulmer, Tanner McCall, Rodney Cowie, Brock Appleyard and Shawn Cowie.

McMillan noted that currently they have a higher number of players than usual, as the coaches continue to test out the different players in new positions. "It is still a bit like training camp hockey, but we are confident the players will be ready to capture a win this weekend."

Things will get tough on the road again for the Red Wings on Friday and Saturday, when they travel to Flin Flon to play the Bombers. "We have a lot of road games in the next couple of weeks with a young team, and that is a tough way to start the regular season," said McMillan.

"In my first year, we had a lot of road games because of construction at the Weyburn rinks, and ended up playing good. So hopefully we can do that again this year," said Cowie.

The 2010-2011 season marks a big moment in history for the Red Wings, because it is the 50th year that they iced a team. "It's pretty cool to see some of the history of this hockey organization," said Coupal.