The Warman Wolverines picked up their seventh win of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League season Friday night, edging the Melville Millionaires 4-3 in a shootout in the closest game on the league’s schedule.
After Melville came up empty on a couple of early power-play opportunities, Warman capitalized on its first chance late in the opening period. Ben Morton finished off a slick cross-crease pass from Trey Markus for his first of the season, giving the Wolverines a 1-0 lead after 20 minutes.
The Mils responded 7:21 into the second period. Following a scramble in front of the Warman net, Leo Jewitt buried the loose puck past goaltender Luke Brunen for his second of the season to tie the game at one. Melville controlled much of the period, outshooting the Wolverines 20-6.
Markus restored Warman’s lead early in the third, sneaking his sixth of the season past Melville starter Kaleb Page at 7:36.
The teams then traded goals, with Cole Brown scoring for the Millionaires before Kayden Yeaman put the Wolverines back in front 3-2.
Melville refused to go away, tying the game with 2:01 remaining in regulation. Cohen Champagne’s long shot from the point beat a screened Brunen to force overtime.
Neither team found the winner in the extra frame, sending the game to a shootout. Sawyer Scheidt scored the only goal of the three-round shootout to secure Warman’s seventh victory of the season.
Brunen turned aside 45 of 48 shots for the Wolverines to earn his sixth win, while Page made 25 saves for Melville in the shootout loss.
The Millionaires continue their weekend road trip Saturday in Kindersley against the Klippers. Catch the action on GX94, with the pregame show starting at 7:20 p.m., or listen live at gx94radio.com.
Elsewhere, the Nipawin Hawks erupted for six first-period goals and cruised to an 8-1 victory over the visiting Yorkton Terriers.
Mason Karakochuk, Mason Lowther and Will Whitter each scored twice for the Hawks, while Austin Mori-Goodman and Carson Park added singles.
Elie Robert scored Yorkton’s lone goal. The Terriers continue their road trip Saturday night in Flin Flon.
In Estevan, Ryan Gibbs recorded two goals and two assists as the Weyburn Red Wings won the latest Highway 39 rivalry matchup, defeating the Bruins 7-1 for their fifth straight victory.
At the Whitney Forum, Matthew Bertolin scored twice, while Tristin Ziola and Dru Mushumanski each recorded a goal and two assists to lead the Melfort Mustangs to a 6-1 win over the Flin Flon Bombers.
And in Humboldt, Reid Wasserman stopped 28 shots to record his first SJHL shutout, backstopping the Broncos to a 5-0 victory over the La Ronge Ice Wolves.
Brayden Smith, Leo Seitz and Oliver Phillips each contributed a goal and an assist for Humboldt.
