St Malo in trouble through two games of CRJHL finals

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This article was published 27/03/2024 (399 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A major upset is brewing in the Capital Region Junior Hockey League (CRJHL) this season.

The Beausejour Comets, who entered the playoffs in the bottom half of the standings, hold a 2-0 lead over the St Malo Warriors in the league finals, after notching 6-5 victories in the first and second games of the series.

Beausejour has already knocked off the top-seeded Selkirk Fishermen in the league semi-finals, and are looking to take down the number two ranked team in the finals.

Game one in St Malo looked like it was going all according to the script. A Damon Johnson hat trick, including a even strength, powerplay and short-handed goal, powered the Warriors to a 4-1 second period lead.

A flurry of offense from the Comets, including goals just 15 seconds apart, erased that lead as the team’s headed into the third period.

Teagan Fillion’s second of the game early in the final period appeared to be the clincher, but Ryden Lemoine replied for the Comets, scoring the first powerplay goal of the post-season against St Malo at the worst possible time for the home team.

Liam Johnston would be the hero for Beausejour with an outstanding solo effort. Johnston beat out two St Malo defenders in a puck battle along the half-wall, before charging to the slot and firing past Warriors goaltender Logan Mazinke with exactly one minute to go, giving the large number of Comets’ supporters who made the trip a reason to celebrate.

The teams had no chance to rest, with action resuming the next night in Beausejour.

Once again, the home team took control in the second period, with the Comets jumping out to a 4-0 lead five minutes into the second period.

With seven minutes to go, Johnson struck for St Malo, cutting the score to 5-3. Fillion would pull the Warriors to within one, as Johnson scored again with three minutes left in the game to force overtime.

Jarvis Ewasko would end the game the same way it started, as he added onto his opening goal with an overtime winner five minutes into the frame.

Game three takes place in St Malo March 27 (8 p.m.) and game four will be in Beausejour March 30 (7:30 p.m.). A game five (if necessary) will be April 2 in St Malo as well.

In the Manitoba Major Junior Hockey League, the Pembina Valley Twisters wasted no time to jump out to a 1-0 lead over St Boniface in the league semi-finals.

The Twisters and St James Jr Canucks needed to wait until game seven was played in the first round series between St Vital and Charleswood March 22, with both semi-finals starting March 24.

A pair of powerplay goals were the difference in Pembina Valley’s 3-1 game one victory. Despite the loss, Riels netminder Ashton Howarth played an outstanding game, only allowing two goals on 44 shots before an empty netter sealed the loss.

The Twisters are also in action on the 27th, at the Southdale Community Centre. The series returns to Morris March 30, with puck drop at 7 p.m.

Game four will be April 1, with a game five if necessary back in Morris April 3 at 8 p.m.