Pool play is in the books at the Circle-K Classic in Calgary, and the good news for Saskatchewan hockey fans is simple — all four provincial entries are still standing.
Pool play is in the books at the Circle-K Classic in Calgary, and the good news for Saskatchewan hockey fans is simple — all four provincial entries are still standing.
Regina, Prairie Hockey Academy, Moose Jaw and Warman have all advanced to the round of 16 as the tournament shifts into playoff mode on Tuesday.
The Regina Pat Canadians were the class of their pool, finishing a perfect 3-0 after a 3-1 win over the Fort Saskatchewan Rangers.
Maddox Schultz, Liam Pue and Nathan Gardiner provided the offence for the Pat C’s, who showed they can win even when the bounces and special teams aren’t cooperating. Fort Saskatchewan held a 24-19 edge in shots, while Regina went 0-for-8 on the power play. The Rangers were also kept off the board on six-man-advantage opportunities.
Despite the lack of power-play production, Regina did enough at five-on-five to secure top spot in the pool and will face Lake Forest Academy in the round of 16.
Prairie Hockey Academy closed out pool play with a tight 2-1 victory over the St. Louis Blues, leaning heavily on its power play when it mattered most.
The Americans struck first when Jackson Stocker opened the scoring at 6:19 of the first period, but PHA responded quickly. Seamus Dillon tied the game at 8:52 on the power play, scoring his first of the tournament.
After a scoreless second period, Tristan Hoko delivered the difference-maker. Hoko scored on the man advantage at 8:26 of the third period — his third goal in as many games — to lift Prairie Hockey Academy to the win and a 2-1 pool record.
PHA now turns its attention to a round-of-16 matchup against the Calgary Hockey Academy.
The Moose Jaw Warriors made a statement in their final pool game, rolling to a 7-2 win over Team Illinois.
Riley Brown opened the scoring late in the first period, and Carson Park doubled the lead midway through the second as Moose Jaw carried a 2-0 advantage into the third.
That’s when the game opened up. Park scored twice more in the final frame to complete a hat trick, while Brown added his second of the night. Maxx Fuessel and Carson Deichert also found the back of the net as the Warriors pulled away.
Illinois managed a pair of third-period goals, but Moose Jaw answered each push with offence of its own. The Warriors outshot Illinois 35-32, with both teams going 1-for-4 on the power play.
Moose Jaw now prepares for a round-of-16 showdown with the Northern Alberta Extreme.
Warman rounded out pool play with a hard-fought 3-2 loss to the Sioux Falls Power, finishing the preliminary round with a 0-2-1 record.
Sioux Falls opened the scoring late in the first and held the lead until Dawson Gamble tied the game for Warman late in the second. The Power regained control early in the third before Jack Bozzell added an insurance marker midway through the period.
The Wildcats refused to go quietly. With the net empty, Nixxon Arcand-Vandale scored with 34 seconds remaining to pull Warman within one, but the comeback fell just short.
Warman held a 34-29 edge in shots, went 1-for-3 on the power play and killed all five Sioux Falls opportunities with the man advantage.
Despite the loss, Warman advances to the playoffs and will face the Calgary Royals in the round of 16.
With four Saskatchewan teams moving on, the Circle-K Classic playoff picture remains very much painted in green as elimination hockey begins Tuesday in Calgary.