Playoffs are now officially underway in the Big Six Hockey League with a pair of Game #1's in the books from Wednesday night.
READ MORE: Big Six Quarterfinal Preview
4th/5th - WAWOTA STEALS HOME-ICE BACK FROM YELLOW GRASS WITH 6-3 WIN IN GAME #1
The Yellow Grass Wheat Kings were able to secure 4th overall in the standings on the final Saturday of the regular season, giving them crucial home-ice advantage against the Wawota Flyers in the Best-of-3 quarterfinal series.
However, the two-time defending league champions decided to steal it right back with a huge road effort in Game #1.
The Flyers jumped out to a 3-0 lead after the 1st period thanks to goals from each member of their top line in Kent Sauter, Justin Lamontagne and Ryan Taylor, putting a hush on the crowd in the Communiplex.
Yellow Grass would cut into the lead in the 2nd period getting markers from Kyle Mryglod and Justin Richter, however Wawota sandwiched a goal in between from Dylan Lamontagne to make it 4-2 after two periods.
The Wheat Kings pulled within one with 6:34 left in regulation as Scott Eberle scored to make it 4-3. But Ryan Taylor scored his second of the game with only 2:19 remaining to put Wawota back up by two goals, and Taylor Ernst sealed the deal with an empty-net goal in the final minute to give the Flyers a 6-3 victory.
Game #2 is at 8pm on the Family Day holiday this Monday, with Wawota now just needing a win at home to advance to the semi-final.
1st/8th - CARNDUFF HANDLES CARLYLE IN GAME #1, CRUISING TO A 6-2 VICTORY
The Carnduff Red Devils finished 22 points ahead of the Carlyle Cougars in the regular season standings, and showed why they earned the league top-seed heading into the playoffs with a big victory in Game #1.
In a fairly evenly played first period, Carnduff took a 2-1 lead into the intermission with goals from Devon Carriere and Matt Audette. Cooper Fox responded for Carlyle in the opening frame.
The Red Devils extended their lead to 3-1 after two periods with captain Kody Martin scoring on the powerplay. In the 3rd period, Carnduff forward Trevor Geiger scored two goals in the first four minutes to put the game out of reach at 5-1. Carlyle captain Ben Johnstone scored his first of the playoffs and Carnduff's Mark Moriarty rounded out the scoring for a 6-2 Red Devils victory.
Game #2 is at 8pm next Tuesday, February 20th at the Carlyle Sports Arena. 
As well, before the game Big Six President Rae Wright handed out some hardward to the Carnduff Red Devils after their strong regular season.
Kody Martin accepted the Regular Season Champions trophy as Carnduff finished 1st overall with 39 points in 24 games.
Matt Audette accepted the Big Six Top Scorer trophy, as Audette co-led the league in scoring along with Oxbow's Taysen Holt with 56 points each. Wright asked Audette's coach, Ed McMillen, to make the presentation with McMillen being a former two-time winner of the Big Six top scoring title.
Mon, Apr 22, 7:00 PM
Seasonal, Labour
Featured
