BY Jonathan Huntington
SASKATOON – Jeremy Wehrens wasn’t ready for his season to end. Neither was Madex Kabrud.
For that reason, the Saskatoon Blazers forced a fifth and deciding game in their semi-final series with the Moose Jaw Winmar Warriors with a resounding 8-3 victory Tuesday night at Rod Hamm Arena.
Wehrens scored five CONSECUTIVE goals for the Blazers and Kabrud made at least six point-blank saves to frustrate the Warriors all evening.
“Madex made some real good saves. We turned-over some pucks that we can’t. Moose Jaw’s transition game is unreal,” said Blazers head coach Troy Walkington. “And most of the looks we had (tonight), we scored and that hasn’t happened in this series.”
Wehrens had most of those great offensive chances – and he scored five straight goals from the 7:42 mark of the second period until three minutes into the third period.
“I didn’t want this to be my last game as a Blazer,” quipped Wehrens, who will play for the Nipawin Hawks of the SJHL next year.
When Wehrens wasn’t scoring, Kabrud (another Nipawin prospect) was keeping the puck out of his net. He made several huge stops off a long list of Warriors: Carson Deichert (twice), Marek McIvor, Tyler Hudec, Maxx Fuessel (three times) and Ryder Gilroy.
“It’s a lot of fun,” said a smiling Kabrud after the game. “It helps the team when you have a confident goalie.”
Moose Jaw head coach Trevor Weisgerber gave credit to Kabrud: “We had a lot of chances and we couldn’t get one by him (early).”
The focus now shifts to Game 5 on Wednesday night in Moose Jaw with the winner advancing to the SMAAAHL final against the Regina Pat Canadians.
“We had two Game 5s last year and we have that experience,” continued Weisgerber, who has at least 10 players from last year’s team in his locker room. “We have a confident group.”
Added Walkington: “Adrenaline kicks-in for Game 5. It’s one game to get to the Provincial final.”
FINISH LINES: To no surprise, frustration boiled-over six minutes into the final frame and a five-on-five line brawl/shoving-match erupted with eight players assessed 10-minute misconducts and tossed from the remainder of the contest… In a rare move, Moose Jaw pulled their goalie with more than 12 minutes remaining during a 4-minute penalty assessed to Saskatoon’s Brock Kolibab… Moose Jaw out-shot Saskatoon 45-27.
(Photo credit: Steve Hiscock.)
