BY Jonathan Huntington
SASKATOON – The Estevan Innovex Bears answered the bell in Game 2 of their quarter-final series against the Swift Current Legionnaires.
Down 1-0 after losing on the road on the weekend, Estevan’s top players stepped forward Tuesday night to even the series with an 8-6 victory.
Gunner Moore – the league’s top scorer – had a goal and three assists. Ethan Boehm and Brendan Jones each added a pair.
“I thought as a whole our team played a lot better (tonight),” said Estevan head coach Ryan Pilon. “We managed pucks and managed the game better than Game 1.”
Estevan’s victory overshadowed a big night for Swift Current’s Kasey Gleim, who had three goals and five points. The Melville Millionares’ first-round pick now has eight points in two playoff games.
“He plays with a ton of speed and seems to be driving their engine,” added Pilon. “It’s a matter of taking away time and space and slowing him down in the neutral zone.”
The series moves to Swift Current for a pivotal Game 3 in the best-of-five on Thursday night.
On The Edge: The Saskatoon Contacts may have nightmares courtesy of Ben Meyer. The Regina Pat Canadians goalie was the best player on the ice Tuesday night in his team’s 4-1 victory against Saskatoon. It means the Contacts face elimination Wednesday – down 2-0 in the best-of-five series against the #1 U18AAA team in the country.
“He made some huge saves and it doesn’t surprise me,” said Regina head coach Ryan Hodgins after the game in Merlis Belsher Place.
The first-year net-minder had outstanding rebound control, made several stops with traffic in his face – and then had the turning point of the third period by stopping a two-man breakaway with Regina holding a two-goal lead.
“I was putting my body on the line,” said Meyer, when asked to describe his sliding blocker-side save. “I was trying to get anything I could (on the puck).”
Finish Lines: The Moose Jaw Winmar Warriors are one win away from the second round after an emphatic 9-2 victory against the Battlefords Stars. Regarded as the most balanced team in the league, nine different Warriors scored on Tuesday… The Saskatoon Blazers will return to home ice on Thursday with a chance to eliminate the Warman Wildcats. The Blazers rode three third-period goals to a 4-2 victory and a 2-0 quarter-final series lead on Tuesday… The Pat Cs – and the Regina Pats of the WHL – received more good news on Tuesday when it became clear that 15-year-old phenom Maddox Schultz didn’t suffer a serious injury after taking a puck to the midsection on Saturday night. Schultz dressed for the Pats on Tuesday when they lost 11-2 to the Medicine Hat Tigers. The loss to the Tigers marked Schultz’s 29th WHL game of the year – meaning he is allowed to dress for five more before his Major Junior regular-season eligibility expires. The Pats have nine games remaining and are three points ahead of the eighth and final playoff spot.
