ASSINIBOIA -- The Sask Male AAA Hockey League championship final has followed a similar pattern through the first two games -- and because of that, the Regina Pat Canadians are now a win away from claiming the title.
The Moose Jaw WINMAR Warriors once again took the lead out of the first period in Game 2 but saw Regina rally to tie the game in the second period and score the game-winner in the third, taking a two-games-to-none lead in the best-of-five series.
The contest was played at the Southland Co-Op Centre in Assiniboia, thanks to the Temple Gardens Centre in Moose Jaw currently being prepared for the World Men’s Curling Championship.
Warriors captain Brennan Brown got things going with 5:45 remaining in the first period, corralling the puck in the corner and breaking out to the front of the net before lifting a backhand home, giving Moose Jaw their 1-0 lead.
Regina’s dangerous power play would come up with the tying goal early in the second period.
Eli Johnson finished off some good movement in the zone by taking a pass from Chase Surkan to the left face-off circle, moving a few strides toward the net and putting a shot low glove side, with the goal coming with 6:22 gone in the frame.
That set the stage for Cruz Klapak not long after the puck dropped in the final period.
After Reid Bechard had a chance in close after gloving the puck down in the air in front of the net, Klapak would find the puck in a goalmouth scramble and poke it home, giving Regina the lead for good at the 2:21 mark of the period.
The Warriors pulled goaltender Luke McKechnie for the extra attacker with just over two minutes to play and would have a handful of chances to tie the game but would be unable to do so, and Regina would have their 2-1 victory.
Pat Canadians goaltender Taylor Tabashniuk continued his impressive play, finishing with 31 saves and taking his team’s game star award. McKechnie finished with 22 saves and had another solid effort of his own.
Thanks to the win, Regina can now wrap up the championship on Thursday night when they host Moose Jaw at the Co-Operators Arena, with puck drop at 7:30 p.m.
The SMAAAHL champion will advance to the Western Regional tournament in Kenora, Ont. in early April, with the winner there advancing to the Telus Cup national championship in Fraser Valley, B.C. Apr. 21-27.
