In a thrilling twist to the Saskatchewan Male Under-18 AAA Hockey League championship series, the Moose Jaw Warriors have clawed their way back into contention. Deklin Larmer was the hero of the night, netting the game-winning goal just under four minutes into overtime, securing a 3-2 victory over the Pat Canadians. This win forces a Game 4 showdown in Moose Jaw on Friday night.
Reflecting on his clutch performance, Larmer shared, “It’s got to be the biggest one that I’ve scored. It felt awesome. Taking this momentum back home with our fans behind us, it’s a great feeling.”
The Pat Canadians, who took the first two games of the series in overtime, were poised to clinch the championship on home ice. However, Warriors goalie Steven Wawyrk had other plans, delivering a standout performance with 45 saves on 47 shots.
“He’s been lights out all year,” praised Warriors head coach Trevor Weisgerber. “Tonight, he was exceptional. He gave us the chance to win, especially early on when we were on our heels.”
Wawyrk, who previously played AAA in Notre Dame, knows the battle isn’t over. “It’s a great feeling, but we’ve still got work to do. We can’t get over our heads with Friday’s game coming up.”
The game was a rollercoaster from the start. Regina’s Liam Pue opened the scoring with a slick move, but Moose Jaw’s Carson Park leveled it late in the first period. The Warriors took the lead in the second period with Ryan Gibbs’ power-play goal, only for Pue to tie it again in the third.
Regina had their chances, including a near miss from Maddox Schultz to Nathan Gardiner, but Wawyrk’s heroics sent the game to overtime. In the extra frame, Riley Brown set up Larmer for the decisive goal, keeping Moose Jaw’s hopes alive.
“We don’t have any quit in that room,” Weisgerber emphasized. “We’re excited to head back home for Game 4 with strong support from our fans.”
For the Pat Canadians, who dominated the regular season with a 38-3-3 record, the focus is on regrouping for the next game. “This is exactly what we expect,” said head coach Ryan Hodgins. “Two good teams going at it.”
Both teams have already secured spots in the Telus Cup Western Regionals, set to take place in Regina from April 2-5. The winner will advance to the Telus Cup national championship in Peterborough, Ontario.
As the series heats up, fans can expect more intense action as these two top teams continue their battle for league supremacy.