A power-play goal by Ty Brown would hold to be the game-winner, as the Weyburn Red Wings picked up a 5-2 win Tuesday night over the Notre Dame Hounds. The win is the first for Weyburn at the Duncan McNeill Arena in Wilcox since February 26th of 2016 and improves their record to 3-2-1 on the season.

The two teams were a little tentative to start the game, but the Hounds took advantage of most opportunities, outshooting Weyburn 8-5. The Wings, who have had a solid power play so far this season, did get one opportunity in the period but were unable to capitalize.

The man advantage came after Hounds forward Colby Brandt was assessed a two minute minor for checking from behind. The penalty automatically incurs a game misconduct as well. The Hounds would spend the rest of the game with a shortened bench.

Red Wings defenseman Erik Olson said between period, the coaches addressed the first period, and the team took the lessons to heart.

Olson, after the game, said the players felt they had come out a little flat in the first period, and the coaching staff addressed it between periods.

“They just told us to keep it simple, get pucks to the net, get in front, bang in rebounds, and just play hard,” Olson said. The advice worked out well in the middle frame.

Just 36 seconds into the second period, Jeremy Velazquez netted his third of the young campaign. The play started with Mike Eskra hammering a shot on goal from the top of the right-hand circle. Notre Dame goalie Jacob Standen made the first save, but the rebound ended up on the stick of Velazquez. He put the puck past Standen for the early lead in the period. Jordan Kazymyra was credited with the other assist on the goal.

Olson, after the game, said the players felt they had come out a little flat in the first period, and the coaching staff addressed it between periods.

“They just told us to keep it simple, get pucks to the net, get in front, bang in rebounds, and just play hard,” Olson said.

The lead wouldn’t make it through to the end of the period, though. Notre Dame’s Alec Zawatsky would score his fourth of the season with just over six minutes left on the clock, as his shot got past Weyburn starting netminder Carter Phair.

The Wings would come out firing in the third period. Connor Pyne scored his first as a Red Wing, with his shot from the top of the right-hand circle hitting the stick of Standen, and going up and over the netminder, into the cage. Olson and Carson Scheschuk were credited with the assists on the goal.

“It’s nice to get it out of the way,” Pyne said, talking about the pressure of scoring his first goal in Junior A.

It would take long for Weyburn to extend the lead, as Brown tapped in a shot from Olson, which, much like Pyne’s goal, hit the stick of Standen, and went up and over him, rolling along the goal line before it was deposited in the back of the net. The power play marker helped the Wings improve their numbers, as they continue to have some of the strongest special teams in the league, going 6-for-34 early in the season. Mike Eskra received credit for the second assist on the goal.

Ben Hiltz would then add to the lead. With just under five minutes left, the second-year forward came in on the left-hand side and fired a laser of a wrist shot which caught a postage stamp sized corner of the Notre Dame net.

Notre Dame would try to make it close, with Caz Smedsrud taking a feed from Marshall Wilton, and putting it into the Weyburn net while the Hounds enjoyed a power play. The goal came with just under three minutes left, and Notre Dame head coach Clint Mylymok decided to gamble for the tie, pulling his goaltender right after.

Cade Kowalski would put the game out of reach though, as he forced a turnover in the neutral zone, and put it into the yawning cage for the 5-2 final.

The Red Wings ended the game going 1-for-4 with the man advantage, as did the Hounds.

In net, Phair picked up his first win of the season in his second start, stopping 21 of the 23 shots he faced.

The Red Wings will now prepare for a challenge Saturday, as they welcome the Melfort Mustangs into Crescent Point Place. The Mustangs are currently 8-0-0-0 and are the number two ranked team in the country. The game Saturday starts at 7:30 p.m.