The Weyburn Red Wings opened the 2017-18 season at home Friday night against the Yorkton Terriers, but the Terriers spoiled the party, winning 3-1.

The game saw the Red Wings come out dominating the early play. In the first five minutes alone, they had two power plays, and would ultimately have seven on the night. They weren’t able to score on any of them, something which caught the attention of head coach Wes Rudy.

“We just need better puck movement on the power play, and we need to get more bodies and more pucks to the net,” Rudy said after the game.

The Wings would be the first ones on the board when Dawson Atamanchuk scored his first as a Red Wing in the second period. The goal, which came at the 3:36 mark of the period, was assisted by Landon Walters and Erik Olson.

Yorkton replied shortly afterward when Shane Sherban tapped a bouncing puck past Red Wings starter Arik Weersink. The game would remain tied right through the rest of the period.

Yorkton took the lead in the third after a broken play resulted in a no change icing call against the Red Wings. With the face-off in the Weyburn zone, and the line unable to change because of the icing, Slater Strong scored his first as a Terrier, giving Yorkton the advantage.

Weyburn pressed, looking for the equalizer. Weyburn dominated the play in the final minutes, but couldn’t get the puck past Logan Bateman. With Weersink on the bench for the final two minutes, Weyburn had the added pressure, but Dalton Ossman would put the nail in the coffin with an empty-netter with 39 seconds remaining.

“We played well at times, and not so well at times,” Rudy said. “Some young guys are just trying to figure out their spots in the lineup, and it was one of those nights where it didn’t click for us.”

The Red Wings will now head to Yorkton Sunday for the rematch. The game starts at 4:30 p.m. You will be able to catch all the action on Red Wing Radio K106, beginning with the pregame show at 4:20 p.m.