The Moose Jaw Winmar Warriors avoided a first-round under-18 triple-A league upset with a 5-2 win over the Estevan Bears Monday night in the fifth and deciding game of their series.
The Warriors, who finished second in the regular season 20 points ahead of Estevan, fell behind early when Bear’s forward Dylan Brass opened the scoring 3:20 into the first period.
However, Moose Jaw responded when Carson Deichert tied the game 1-1 just over five minutes later. That’s how the opening period ended, tied 1-1, with the Bears outshooting the Warriors 10-9.
In the second period, the Warriors capitalized on an early chance. Gage Nagel tallied his fifth goal of the series 13 seconds into the period to give Moose Jaw a 2-1 lead.
It would be a lead that the Warriors would not relinquish. Carson Deichert would score his second of the game at 15:00 to give the home team a 3-1 lead. Just over a minute and a half later, the Warriors would add to their lead, with Carson Park finding the back of the net.
Estevan would get one back before the period was over, as Dylan Brass scored his second goal of the game. After 40 minutes Moose Jaw led 4-1 and outshot Estevan 11-9.
In the final period, the Warriors clogged the neutral zone and shut down the Estevan offence, putting the game away with 1:06 to go when Brennan Brown scored his first goal of the playoffs.
The Moose Jaw Winmar Warriors will now take on the Swift Current Legionnaires in the second round of the SMAAAHL playoffs.
