SWHL This Week; Playoff Week 6

Sask West This Week 

The Sask West Hockey League (SWHL) playoffs continued Friday night as game 3 between the Hafford Hawks and the Kindersley Sr Klippers. The Klippers came out on top in a 4-3 overtime victory and taking the 2-1 series lead in the best of 5 series. 

The teams traded goals all night, with Jordan Braid opening the scoring. Kyle Donaldson tied the game up to send them into the locker rooms in a 1-1 draw. In the second, Carson Grolla would score on the power play, but a minute later, Kobe Kindrachuk would convert on a PPG of his own and tying the game up at 2 after 40 minutes. Kyle Litchenwald would give the Hawks the big 3-2 late at the 6:20 mark, but with the net empty, Brody Ryberg would score to send the game into overtime. In the first overtime, Lane Gilliss would prove to be the hero, sending the home crowd away happy. 

Joel Gryzbowski stopped 35 of 39 shots in the overtime loss, while Logan Drackett stopped 35 of 38 shots in the win. 

The Hawks and Klippers convened at the Hafford & District Communiplex on Saturday night for game 4 of the series. It was the Klippers coming away with the 8-6 win and winning the best of 5 series 3-1. 

It was a scoring parade in the 1st period as Scott Linnel and Kyle Litchenwald (on the power play) propelled Hafford to an early 2-0 lead. Kyle Donaldson would counter just 30 seconds later to cut the lead to 2-1. Kyle Ireland and Litchenwald would extend the lead up to 4-1, but Lane Gilliss, Jerrett Reichert and Damon McKenzie would all score in a span of a minute to tie the game up at 4 after one period. Troy Boisjoli scored early in the 2nd to give the Klippers their first lead of the game, and Dylan Georget would extend that lead to 6-4 just past the halfway point. Jordan Braid scored his 4th of the postseason to cut that lead down to 6-5 after 40 minutes. Boisjoli on the power play would add to the lead, with Reichert making it 8-5. Jeremy Boyer would score to bring the deficit down to 8-6, but it was as close as they would get. 

Logan Drackett earned the win, stopping 38 of 44 shots, while Joel Gryzbowski took the loss stopping 22 of 30 shots. 

The SWHL Finals are now set as the 1 seed Wilkie Outlaws play the 2 seed Kindersley Sr Klippers. 

Provincials 

In the Senior ‘A’ Division, the Kindersley Sr Klippers faced the Kenaston Blizzard on Tuesday night at the Kenaston Arena, which the Blizzard won 5-4 in double overtime and tying the series up at 1. Game 3 happened Wednesday night at the West Central Events Centre, which Kenaston came away with a 5-3 victory and ended the Klippers quest for a provincial title. 

In Senior ‘C’, The Wilkie Outlaws trekked south to Dinsmore for a game 1 North Final date with the Dynamos. A slow start and even play meant Dinsmore had a 2-1 lead in the early stages of the 2nd, but the Outlaws popped the cork out of the bottle as they potted 5 goals in 5 minutes to cruised on that momentum to a 7-3 victory.  

The Outlaws welcomed the Dynamos into the SaskCan Community Centre Sunday night for game 2, and it was the Outlaws coming out on top 2-1. Brett Boehm potted the winner in the early half of the third period. Wilkie wins the best of 3 series 2-0. 

The Outlaws now await the winner of the Kyle Elks (Sask Valley Hockey League) and the Carnduff Red Devils (Big Six Hockey League). Carnduff holds the 1-0 series lead. 

In the Senior ‘D’ Bracket, The Macklin Mohawks hosted the Delisle Bruins in game 1 of their North Final, and it was the Mohawks coming away with the 5-1 win. Game 2 of the series happens in Delisle on Saturday, March 16th at 8pm. Game 3 if needed would be in Macklin on Sunday, March 17th at 6pm.