The Richardson Pioneer Weyburn Red Wings took to the ice Friday night for their opening game of the 2023-24 campaign. Entertaining Viterra Division rivals, the Yorkton Terriers, the Red Wings would pepper the Yorkton net with 40 shots, and finished going 1-for-6 on the power play. However, stellar goaltending from Yorkton netminder Caleb Allen would keep the Red Wings at bay, and in a shootout, the visitors would come away with a 3-2 victory.

Yorkton took the lead at the 8:09 mark of the first period when Jaron Desnoyers got the puck past veteran Weyburn goalie Dazza Mitchell to make it a 1-0 game. The Wings, though, would not need long to reply.

Just 70 seconds later, Elijah Anderson, sprung free on a breakaway with a carom pass off the boards from captain Max Monette, made a great move to pull Allen out of position, and put the puck into the twine of the Yorkton goal. Newly acquired forward Cade Meiklejohn would have the second assist on the goal. 

Before the first period was over, though, the Terriers replied to regain the lead. Anthony Domina scored with 5:58 remaining in the opening frame to give the Terriers the lead.

The lead would hold until just past the halfway mark of the second period. With 9:19 on the clock, Jerome Maharaj took a feed in the slot and deposited it into the net behind Allen to even the game up at 2-2. Meiklejohn would pick up his second point of the game. The other assist was credited to Anderson. 

From there, the goaltenders at both ends took over, making spectacular saves to preserve the tie. Allen would see the bulk of that work, facing 25 shots between the final two periods of regulation and the overtime period. At the other end, Mitchell would be perfect for the second and third, as well as overtime, stopping 19 shots. 

In the shootout, both teams would need to send four shooters out, with the goaltenders standing tall. Then, the final shooter for Yorkton, Brett Butz, would finally beat Mitchell to give the Terriers the win. 

The Red Wings will now get set for the rematch against the Terriers on Saturday night in Yorkton. Fans can catch all the action on Great Plains Ford Red Wing Radio, BIG106. Nick Neilsen will have the call, starting with the pregame show at 6:45 p.m.

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There were four other games on the schedule in the SJHL Friday night to open the campaign. 

In Estevan, Felix Allard scored the game-winning goal on the power play as the Bruins beat the visiting Melville Millionaires 3-2.

Trevor Stenglein scored twice as the Flin Flon Bombers topped the Hawks in Nipawin. 

Joey Hawco made 29 saves as the Battlefords North Stars, defending SJHL champions, opened the season with a 4-0 win over the Kindersley Klippers.

The Melfort Mustangs had a pair of goals from Mathieu Pigeon as they doubled up the visiting La Ronge Ice Wolves 8-4. 

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