Coalers facing elimination in Big Six playoffs

The Bienfait Coalers are on the brink of elimination in their bestof-five Big Six Hockey League semifinal series with the Moosomin Rangers.

Moosomin scored five times in the first period in a 10-2 victory Friday night in Moosomin. Taysen Holt and Klae Bayda had Bienfait’s goals.

Carter Sawchuk had two goals and two assists for Moosomin, while Brayden Holloway and Drayson Skulmoski each scored twice. Connor Fath, Drew Schiller, Jacob Piller and Jevon Schwean also scored. Bud Holloway assisted on six Rangers’ tallies.

Zack Miller (Bienfait) and Levi Horn (Moosomin) were the goalies.

The following day was a 6-5 Moosomin victory in overtime.

Bud Holloway scored the winner 7:20 into the second overtime period while the Rangers were short-handed. It was his second of the game. He also added two assists. Dawson Springer, Brayden Holloway, Piller andSawchukalsoscored.

Taysen Holt had three goals for Bienfait and Kaelan Holt scored twiceandchippedintwo helpers. Taysen Holt’s third of the game with 61 seconds remaining in the third sent the game to overtime.

Kyler Beckett was in goal for Moosomin and Miller was Bienfait’s goalie.

Game 3 will be March 3 in Moosomin. Game 4, if necessary, would be two nights later in Bienfait and Game 5, if necessary, would be March 8 in Moosomin. Games start at 8 p.m.

Thisisn’tthe firsttime the Coalers have been on the brink of elimination this year. In the best-of-three first-round series against the 2022 Big Six champions, the Carnduff Red Devils, the Coalers dropped the first game, but then won two straight with their season on the line.

In the other semifinal series, the Redvers Rockets hold a 1-0 series lead against the Yellow Grass Wheat Kings after a 7-2 victory Tuesday night in Redvers. Braden Mellon scored in the first and second periods to give Yellow Grass a 2-1 lead, but Redvers took over from there with four goals in 9 1/2 minutes after Mellon’s second.

Bradey Fidierchuk scored twice, and Brady Gaudet, Jordon Miller, Braeden Magotiaux, Colby Potapinski and Kenton Miller also scored. Drew Hoff had four assists.

Cody Matthewson was in goal for Redvers,