Team Saskatchewan will be playing in the bronze medal game this evening after falling 6-3 to Quebec in the Canada Winter Games male hockey semifinal in Red Deer on Thursday.
Team Sask – including Moose Jaw minor hockey product and Prairie Hockey Academy standout Kirk Mullen – took a 2-0 lead out of the first period but couldn’t make their early edge stand, as Quebec scored four goals in the second to take control of the game.
Regina’s Cole Sillinger picked up a goal and an assist in the contest, Prince Albert’s Ashton Ferster and Regina’s Blake Swetlikoff each had single markers,
Saskatoon product and Moose Jaw Warriors draft pick Brett Mirwald turned aside 41 shots in taking the loss, Saskatchewan managed 18 shots on Quebec.
Ontario took an 8-4 win over Alberta in the other semifinal, meaning Team Sask will now face Alberta in the bronze medal game tonight. The two teams also met in the round robin, with Saskatchewan winning 4-3 in overtime.
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The switch-over to week two of the Canada Winter Games takes place Saturday, with Moose Jaw's contingent of figure skaters and curlers set to make their Games appearance.
The team of Skylar Ackerman, third Madison Johnson, second Chantel Hoag and lead Samantha McLaren will play their first contests on Sunday when they face the Northwest Territories in the morning draw and Nova Scotia in the evening.
Both Ryann Handley in Novice ladies and the Novice pairs team of Raine Eberl and Caidence Derenisky will skate their short programs on Tuesday and freeskate program on Thursday.
