BY Jonathan Huntington
SASKATOON – Ryder Gilroy stepped onto the ice in overtime – screaming for the puck. A few seconds later, the puck was in the net and the Moose Jaw Winmar Warriors were practically flying off the bench to celebrate a 4-3 OT victory Thursday to even their semi-final series at 1-1 with the Saskatoon Blazers.
“It’s the biggest game of the playoffs, so far,” exclaimed Gilroy outside the Warriors’ dressing room. “I jumped on the ice and saw the puck was in deep (in the Blazers’ zone). I took a lane to the middle and I was screaming for the puck.”
Gilroy – a Warman SJHL prospect – beat Blazers goalie Madex Kabrud low on the blocker side to reclaim home-ice advantage with Game 3 in Moose Jaw on Saturday night.
“It’s a big turning point for us,” said Warriors head coach Trevor Weisgerber, who didn’t want to be down 2-0 in the best-of-five series.
Maxx Fuessel (Nipawin Hawks SJHL first-round pick) scored twice for Moose Jaw in regulation time, along with Tobin Schaefer (Moose Jaw WHL draft choice). Blaise Baier (La Ronge Ice Wolves SJHL prospect) scored his first two post-season goals for Saskatoon, with Jeremy Wehrens (Nipawin first-round pick) adding the other.
FINISH LINES: Saskatoon entered last night with a stellar 18-4-2 record at home… Thursday’s game was the first overtime tilt in the SMAAAHL playoffs this year.
