The Kindersley Klippers visit Weyburn for the first time this season tonight, and for the Red Wings, they will look to beat the Klippers for the first time this season. While the Red Wings are looking to start a streak after Wednesday’s win over the Melville Millionaires, the Klippers have taken the first three meetings between the two teams.

Coming into tonight’s game, Weyburn is second in the Viterra Division, one point back of the Estevan Bruins. Their record of 17-11-2 has come through hard-fought battles against some of the toughest teams in the SJHL.

On paper, the Klippers are a low scoring, undisciplined team with a penchant for taking penalties. While they have a record of 13-8-2-2, Kindersley has the second lowers goals for this season, and nearly three hundred more penalty minutes than the Red Wings, the second least penalized team in the league.

The Klippers are hoping the acquisition of Keillan Olson from the Nipawin Hawks can help jump-start their offense, and their goaltending has won them many games, as they have allowed just 76 goals so far this year. Their success on the road, though, hasn’t been frequent. The Klippers have just four wins away from the West Central Events Centre this season. They do hold a mark of distinction, though, against the Viterra Division. They are the only team in the league to not lose to any of the four teams from the Viterra.

As for the Red Wings, they have been looking to turn the corner, and pick things up offensively. They have shown flashes of greatness so far this season, and it has come from a core of players who are a healthy mix of veterans and rookies.

Jordan Kazymyra and Cade Kowalski are two rookies who have started out this season with a mission to prove a point, it appears. They have combined for seven points in three games against Kindersley. Right behind those two are Erik Olson, Mike Eskra and Ben Hiltz. The three veterans have been collecting points in crucial moments, which has helped Weyburn to their record.

In goal, the Wings have had to look to 20-year-old Arik Weersink, and he has been able to deliver for the team. He looked stellar in Wednesday’s 4-2 win over Melville, and should be able to continue to carry the bulk of the work. Right behind him is newly acquired Liam McCloskey. The 19-year-old was with the Klippers at the beginning of the season, but they shipped him up to Lloydminster in the AJHL,. He has now returned to the SJHL, and is more than likely looking for a chance to prove to his former team they got rid of a top calibre goaltender.

Justin Close leads the way for Kindersley, coming into the game with a very respectable save percentage of .928. His goals against average, though, at 2.67, implies he faces a lot of shots on goal each and every night. His back up, Billy Girard, is in a similar situation, with a save percentage of .917, and goals against average of 3.11

The puck drops tonight at Crescent Point Place at 7:30 p.m.