MOOSEJAWTODAY.COM -- The Moose Jaw WINMAR Warriors just keep on winning, and they now have the position in the standings to show for it.
The Warriors took a 2-1 win over the Saskatoon Contacts in Saskatoon on Saturday and followed up with a 5-1 victory in the rematch on Sunday in Sask Male AAA Hockey League action.
Moose Jaw improved to 20-4-2 with the victories and have moved two points clear of the Regina Pat Canadians for first place in the 12-team league. The Warriors also hold a .808 winning percentage, tops in the SMAAHL, making them the best team in the league heading into their Christmas break.
Saskatoon fell to 4-18-1 and remain in 10th place overall.
Moose Jaw 2, Contacts 1
As the score would indicate, the opening game of the weekend was a close battle, with a single goal scored in each period.
Carson Park gave Moose Jaw the lead 9:09 into the opening frame and Gage Nagel would make it 2-0 with a power play goal 7:21 into the second.
Bennett Leibel got one back for Saskatoon with a power play goal of their own with 3:09 to play, making for a tense finish, but the Warriors would hang on for the win.
Luke McKechnie stopped 21 shots to earn the win, Addy Price had 36 saves in the loss.
Moose Jaw 5, Contacts 1
Things were far more comfortable for the Warriors in the rematch, as they took a 2-0 lead out of the first and led 5-0 through two.
Ryan Gibbs opened scoring in the contest at the 8:59 mark of the opening period and Tyler Hudec would make it a two-goal lead only 14 seconds later.
Keaton Lesperance scored on the power play with 9:32 gone in the second to extend the Warriors’ edge, and Gibbs added his 22nd goal of the season 2:10 later for a four-goal margin. Lesperance then scored his second marker with the man advantage with 33 seconds left, making it a 5-0 contest.
Hudson Postnikoff scored with 3:16 gone in the third for Saskatoon’s lone goal.
Gibbs and Lesperance each finished with three points, while Keirin Osberg had three assists and Jonah Pinel two helpers.
Kaleb Page picked up the win thanks to 29 saves, Nick Goodwin stopped 31 for the Contacts.
The WINMAR Warriors are now off from league play until the new year, but will be in Calgary over the holidays for the Circle K Classic U18 AAA tournament.
The Contacts are back on the ice Saturday when they take on the Saskatoon Blazers, with game time 7 p.m. at Merlis Belsher Place.
