The Weyburn Red Wings dropped their third game in a row Friday night, a 4-2 loss to the visiting Nipawin Hawks. It is the second loss in seven days to the Hawks, who moved closer to first in the Sherwood Division, while the Wings maintain a one-point edge over the Estevan Bruins for first in the Viterra Division.

The Hawks opened the scoring in the first period, when Austin Mikesch scored his fourth of the season, tipping the puck past Carter Phair. The lead expanded to two before the period was over when Chad McCartney batted home a rebound.

The Hawks would score again in the second on a delayed penalty after an awkward hit by rookie Red Wing Garrett Szeremley. He finished a hit on Grant Baetsen, who had lost his footing. Szeremley caught Baetsen from behind, and the Nipawin forward went into the boards awkwardly, and ultimately left the game with an upper-body injury. While waiting for the Red Wings to touch the puck for the penalty to be applied, Gage Misskey scored his first ever SJHL goal from the point.

On the ensuing power play, the Red Wings held off the Hawks for the complete five minutes. The Hawks, though, kept up momentum into the third period, moving to a 4-0 lead when Logan Casavant knocked a loose puck past Phair at the side of the net.

Weyburn replied just 19 seconds later, ending the shutout bid by Declan Hobbs. Dawson Atamanchuk took a feed from Erik Olson and wired a wrist shot past Hibbs from the top of the slot. The goal is Atamanchuk’s fourth of the season, and the assist Olson’s 11th.

The Red Wings then got a power play late in the game. With 2:09 left in the third, Ben Hiltz notched his 10th of the season. Cade Kowalski and Mike Eskra assisted on the goal.

The Wings pushed with an extra attacker and a power play through the final two minutes but were unable to get any more past Declan Hobbs.

The Wings will now look to turn around their fortunes as they head to Melville for a game against the Millionaires Saturday night. The game starts at 7:30, and can be heard on Red Wing Radio, K106.