The Big Six Hockey League playoffs started Wednesday night, with one of the featured games being a rematch of last year’s league finals.

The Wawota Flyers were in Yellow Grass to begin the playoffs, taking on the Wheat Kings in the best-of-three quarterfinal series. It would be the Flyers who drew first blood in the series, as they came away with a 6-3 win.

Wawota was the first on the board, as Kent Sauter would bear Tanner Erickson just 2:32 into the first period, with assists going to Ryan Taylor, and Justin Lamontagne. Wawota would continue to put the pressure on through the opening period, as they added two more. Lamontagne scored a goal of his own with 7:37 left in the period, and Taylor scored as well before the period was out.

The Wheat Kings replied in the second, with Kyle Mryglod finding a way to beat Guillaume Blouin just past the five-minute mark. His goal was assisted by Cole Rooney and Dylan Frey. Just two minutes, later, though Frey would find himself having to leave the game. He was assessed a five minute major for a slew foot, and a game misconduct. On the ensuing power play, Dylan Lamontagne would score to restore the advantage to three goals. Hunter Smith assisted.

The Wheat Kings would score again with just a couple of minutes remaining in the period. Justin Richter scored his first of the postseason, assisted by Mryglod.

The Wheat Kings pulled within one late in the third. Scott Eberle beat Blouin, assisted by Brendon Vertefeuille and Drew Fellner. The Wheat Kings continued to pressure, but it would be the Flyers who would score next. Taylor found the back of the net for his second of the night, assisted by Justin Lamontagne, and Sauter. Taylor Ernst would add an empty-netter to round out the scoring.

Game two of the series will be played back in Wawota, although there could be some different looks to the lineups. The teams combined for 109 penalty minutes, including five misconduct penalties and two game misconduct penalties. As a result, suspensions may be issued under SHA guidelines.

In the other game, the Carlyle Cougars travelled to Carnduff to take on the Red Devils to open their best-of-three quarterfinals. The Red Devils went wire-to-wire as the top team in the SJHL and were looking to set a tone early.

The Red Devils came out firing, and built up a quick lead, thanks to three goals in the opening 25 minutes of the game. It started in the first, when Decon Carriere score, and was assisted by Mark Moriarty, and Blake McMillen. Carnduff added to the lead before the period expired, when Matt Audette tallied, with the assists going to Shawn Gallant and Trevor Geiger. The Red Devils made it 3-0 when captain Kody Martin scored before the second period was five minutes old, with Landon Senchuk and Brandon Trask assisting.

The Cougars looked to answer back, and got on the board in the second, just past the halfway point of the middle frame. Cooper Fox scored for the visitors, with Clayton Geiger and Ben Johnstone assisting.

The Red Devils fired back with two more goals once the third period started. Trevor Geiger scored his first of two in the period just 24 seconds after the puck drop. Audette and Gallant assisted on the goal. Four minutes later, Geiger would score again, making it a 5-1 game. Audette and Martin assisted the second goal.

Carlyle made an effort to get back into the game, with the work paying off with a goal from Johnstone just two minutes after the Red Devils put the game almost out of reach. Fox and Tyler Fleck earned the helpers on the goal.

The Red Devils would notch one more marker before the night was over. Moriarty scored a goal, assisted by Tanner Reynolds and Barrett Dumaine.

The Big Six Hockey League quarterfinals continue Thursday night. The Oxbow Huskies travel to Redvers to face the Rockets. Midale and Bienfait start their best-of-three series on Friday.

Yellow Grass and Wawota will play game two of their series in Wawota on Monday. Carnduff and Carlyle will renew acquaintances in Carnduff on Tuesday.