The Weyburn Red Wings will look to resume their winning ways when they hit the ice tonight, as they travel to Wilcox to face the Notre Dame Hounds. This is the second meeting of the season between the two teams, separated by just 81 kilometres on Highway 39. The Red Wings took the first game, a 5-2 decision in Wilcox back on October 3rd. The win started a nine game winning streak for Weyburn.

In that game, the Wings scored three goals in the third period to pull away from the Hounds. The win also sparked what would be a phenomenal first half of the year for second year Red Wing Ben Hiltz, as he scored in the game.

Since the game back on October 3rd, the Wings have gone 13-5-1, and climbed up the ladder to be one of the top teams in the SJHL. For Notre Dame, they have been on a bit of a run since the loss to the Red Wings as well. Their 11-3-0-2 record in October and November has them sitting atop the Olympic Buildings Division, ahead of the defending Canalta Cup Champions, the Battlefords North Stars.

The Red Wings have stumbled a bit as of late, going 4-5-1-0 in their last ten. Meanwhile, Notre Dame is on a seven game point streak, going 5-0-0-2 in that stretch. While the Hounds have produced more goals than the Red Wings, Weyburn has been stellar in keeping the puck out of their own net, with the second lowest goals against per game in the league. On the Olympic-sized ice surface at the Duncan McNeill Arena in Wilcox, though, the Hounds generally have an advantage in terms of defense.

So far this season, the Hounds have allowed 31 goals against at home, an average of 2.12 goals per game. The Wings have been fairly potent offensively on the road, though, as they are averaging 3.38 goals for. Weyburn also has the upper hand in the season series, which can help to carry the momentum.

One interesting storyline which developed in the past week regarding this game was Weyburn’s acquisition of Matthew Chan from the Nepean Raiders of the CCHL. Last season, Chan played for the Hawkesbury Hawks of the same league, where he split time in the crease with current Notre Dame goalie Jacob Standen.

The game tonight will be heard live on Red Wing Radio, K106, starting with the pregame show at 7:50 p.m.