Redwings hold first place after narrow win over Miners

By David McIver

The Rosetown Redwings, with two more regular-season games left to play, remained in first place in the Cross Roads Hockey League as last Friday.

The Redwings, who edged the Unity Miners 4-3 here on Jan. 3,  were to host the Luseland Mallards last Saturday and then play in Kindersley this Saturday.

Braxton Cutler (centre, 9) of the Rosetown Redwings tries to get the puck from Unity Miner goalie Noah Gumpinger despite the interference of Carter Acton. Fellow Redwings Cole Lewis (28) and Mike Sparks (81) stand ready. Another Miner, Nolan Acton, tries to get in position during first-period action here on Jan. 3. The Redwings won 4-3. Photo by David McIver

The Redwings had 16 points in nine games, four points ahead of the second-place Dodsland Stars who had played eight games going into a Friday-night home contest with the Kindersley Kodiaks.

The Redwings led the Miners 2-1 and 3-1 by periods.

Kane Dubé scored their first two goals. Mitchel Robbie and Jordan Johnston, with the winner, also tallied.

Noah Martens made 23 saves in the Rosetown net. Miner goalie Noah Gumpinger stopped 17 Redwing shots.

Brayden Schultz, Dalyn McCubbing and - with six attackers and 15.5 seconds left - Hunter Sperle scored for Unity.

The Miners had 12 points in nine games. The fourth-place Kerrobert Tigers had six points in eight games; the Kodiaks, six points in 10 games and the Mallards, winless in eight starts.

While the Redwings went 2-0 against the Luseland team last season, the Mallards “don’t quit,” said Redwing coach Curtis MacDonald.

“They’re a hard-working squad,” said MacDonald.

The Redwings close out the regular season in Kerrobert on the 24th.

However, the playoff bracket on the league website was to come out on Monday, said the coach on Friday.