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The Moose Jaw Winmar Warriors have kept their chances at a provincial title alive with an overtime win in Regina.
After falling in the extra frame through the first two games of the best-of-five Saskatchewan Male U18 AAA Hockey League finals, it was Moose Jaw who was able to score the game-winner to earn a 3-2 win over the Regina Pat Canadians. The series is now 2-1 in favour of Regina.
It was Deklin Larmer who would turn into the overtime hero for Moose Jaw. The 16-year-old admits it was probably the biggest goal he has scored.
“I kind of blacked out but what I remember is I got by the D-man. I made sure I got wide and could find a hole for (Riley) Brown to slide it across — he made a great pass across — and I just saw high glove and I put it on net and it went in,” Larmer said.
Every game in this series between the two clubs has been hard-fought, with every contest going to overtime. In Game 1, Regina won 3-2 in overtime. An extra frame was once again needed in Game 2, which Regina also won 4-3.
“Three in a row — it’s what you expect when you have two great teams going at it and that’s what happens — three straight overtimes,” Pat Canadians head coach Ryan Hodgins said.
In Game 3, Moose Jaw goaltender Steven Wawryk made a couple of key saves early in the game to keep the Pats off the board.
Wawryk, who made 45 saves in the game, admitted there were a few saves early that let him know he could be locked in during the game.
“Got to give credit to (Cooper) Bratton and (Maddox) Schultz, they know how to play together. They are pretty good backdoor and sliding across you just hope you can get it and I got it a couple times,” Wawryk said. “It’s a great feeling but you can’t lose your head about you. We have two more games and we still have Friday to focus on. It’s going to be a packed barn and home ice advantage for sure. It’s awesome playing in front of those fans but we can’t get over our heads because then we have no chance.”
While it was elation on one side, the Regina Pat Canadians had to deal with the sting of defeat for the first time in these playoffs.
“A tough one for us. We obviously want to win at home and now we have to get it done in Moose Jaw,” Schultz said.
“Coming into it, you know it’s going to be a battle. To think you’re going to sweep the series — that’s what you want to do — but at the same time, that’s why you call it a series. It’s 2-1 and a lot of hockey to be played yet,” Hodgins said.
Regina did strike first with Liam Pue showing off his hands and then shot, beating Wawryk.
Moose Jaw answered late in the opening frame with Carson Park scoring with just over a minute to go.
In the second period, Moose Jaw would claim its first lead of the game after Ryan Gibbs beat Regina goaltender Adam Muntain.
Pue scored his second of the game around the midway point of the third period.
With neither team able to score a goal in regulation, the overtime period was needed. That’s where Larmer would score the goal to keep Moose Jaw’s chances at a provincial title going for at least one more game.
Regina swept the Warriors in last year’s SMAAAHL final.
Game 4 is Friday at 7 p.m. in Moose Jaw.
With the Telus Cup West Regionals taking place in Regina, both teams have already qualified for that tournament. Regina gets in as the host team, while Moose Jaw will be the SMAAAHL representative.
