The Rosthern Wheat Kings battle the Biggar Nationals in provincial action in Biggar on Feb. 3, 2024. (Logan Lehmann/paNOW Staff)

By Logan Lehmann

Senior Hockey

Teams on verge of advancing following opening weekend of TRHL playoffs, senior hockey provincials

Feb 8, 2024 | 12:49 PM

The inaugural games of the 2024 senior hockey playoffs began in leagues across the province this past weekend along with the provincial playoffs.

Locally in the Twin Rivers Hockey League (TRHL), four teams found themselves on the brink of moving on to the semi-finals while the other four have their backs against the wall entering this weekend.

#1 Birch Hills Blackhawks vs #4 Cudworth Tricky Maroons

In the #1 vs #4 matchup in the East, the top-ranked Birch Hills Blackhawks sailed to a 7-4 win over the Cudworth Tricky Maroons in game one of the best-of-three.

Hunter Schnell led the way for the Hawks, netting a pair of goals and a trio of assists. Meanwhile both Parker Foffonoff and Connor Long finished the game with four points. Foffonoff tallied a goal and three assists while Long managed a hat-trick along with a single helper. Goaltending was also a key part of the victory as Kody Kushniruk stood tall, making 34 stops to secure the game-one win.

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For Cudworth, Graehme Fiolleau, Tanner Brockman, Dane Bumphrey, and Adam McCannell were the goal getters while Dawson Boehm led the assist department with two. In goal was Cole Boser who made 24 saves and was credited with the loss.

Birch Hills now has a chance to advance on Saturday when they pay a visit to the Tricky Maroons in Cudworth for an 8:00 p.m. puck drop.

#2 Allan Flames vs #3 Clavet Cougars

The first overtime of the postseason came in the Allan Arena on Sunday night which saw the Allan Flames prevail 3-2 over the Clavet Cougars to kick off the #2 vs #3 series in the East.

Some stellar goaltending kept the game close throughout the contest but in the end, Cam Brossart played hero for the Flames by scoring with less than five minutes to go in overtime to put Allan on the verge of advancing. Luke Brossart and Casey Knight also scored for the Flames as Knight, Griffin MacLeod, and Tanner Dutcawich got the assists.

Matthew Pearson and Marshall Hodgson got the markers for the Cougars in game one while Nic Prediger and Tyson Schroeder were credited with the assists.

As mentioned earlier, the goaltending was the difference in the game with Allan’s Liam Forsyth making 32 stops for the win and Clavet’s Braedyn Lysak turning aside 44 in the loss.

Game two, and the possible series finale, is set for Saturday night in Clavet with an 8:30 p.m. start.

#1 Willow Cree Chiefs vs #4 Shellbrook Elks

In the #1 vs #4 in the West, the Willow Cree Chiefs managed to get the upper hand in the best-of-three series following game one.

The Chiefs were able to cruise to a 6-3 win over the Shellbrook Elks on home ice after a four-goal first period. Taryn Mckenzie, Darwin Morin, Kirk Bear, and Lucas Seesequasis each found the back of the net in the period while Morin and Bear both added another marker later in the game. Additionally, Willow Cree had nine assist-getters in the game including Bear, who finished the game with two. In goal was Nathan Dancy who managed 36 saves for the win.

For the Elks, Cole Dupperreault and Matthew Flodell finished with a goal and two assists each as Ethan Beaulac netted the other goal for Shellbrook. Matthew Kutnikoff and Tavis Galloway collected the other assists. Jonathan Nelson was between the pipes and tallied 35 saves in the loss.

Game two takes place in Shellbrook on Sunday in a matinee set for 3:30 p.m.

#2 Dalmeny Sabres vs #3 Rosthern Wheat Kings

Despite playing in two provincial games in the days leading into game one of the TRHL playoffs, the Rosthern Wheat Kings were able to close out their three-in-three weekend on a high note with a dominant 5-2 showing against the defending champions Dalmeny Sabres in game one of the #2 vs #3 series.

Five different goal scorers donned the scoresheet for Rosthern, including Kyle Schmidt, Jordy Guillou, Kelly Friesen, Ben Zultok, and Tysen Smith. Guillou and Ethan Regnier each led the assist category with three while Kendrew Friesen, Riley Lehmann, and Brayden Anderson tallied the other helpers.

Chance Adrian and Travis Swanson lit the lamp for the Sabres while Adam Osczevski, Daniel Block, Dawson Rowley, and Jayden Cantre managed one assist each.

Addison Dasiuk took the loss for Dalmeny, making 33 saves while Rosthern’s Kyle Rahier turned aside 39 in the win.

Game two is slated for Friday night in Rosthern with an 8:30 p.m. start.

Senior Provincials

Before the playoff win, Rosthern was battling in a best-of-three provincial series against the Biggar Nationals where that series has yet to decide a winner.

Game one took place Friday night in Rosthern and saw the Wheat Kings prevail in a dominant 9-4 showing before things took a turn the following night. In Biggar on Saturday, the Nationals jumped out to an early 1-0 lead after the first, built on that lead in the second, and found themselves up 3-1 entering the third. Either team added another in the third and despite Rosthern leading the shots 54-21 by the end of the game, Biggar managed to pull off the 4-2 win and tie the series at one.

The do-or-die game three is scheduled for Saturday night at the Biggar Jubilee Stadium. Puck drop is at 8:00 p.m. The winner will move on to face either the Porcupine Plain Blues or the Wilkie Outlaws in the quarterfinals.

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loganc.lehmann@pattisonmedia.com