Playoffs are now under way in the Sask West Hockey League.
Eight team have qualified for the playoffs and two of those series are already over, after games this weekend.
One series saw the Hafford Hawks sweeping the Edam 3 Stars in two straight games in a battle between old foes from the Sask. Prairie Hockey League. The Hawks won the first game 5-2 and then the second 4-3 in overtime to advance to round two.
It was Nathan Linnell who got the goal in overtime at the 8:12 mark to win the series. Last year’s SJHL playoff MVP for the North Stars, goalie Joel Grzybowski, stopped 30 of 33 in the victory for the Hawks.
The other series saw the Macklin Mohawks decisively defeat the Kerrobert Tigers in two straight by lopsided margins. The Mohawks won by 8-1 and 10-3 scores; Jared Hillis and Brad Buckingham each had two-goal nights in the second game. Both Hafford and Macklin go to the next round.
Other quarterfinal series will begin this weekend. The first-seeded Wilkie Outlaws look to defend their title versus the Biggar Nationals. That series starts Friday, Jan. 31 in Wilkie and then continues in Biggar Feb. 7 before returning for a possible third game Feb 11 back in Wilkie.
The second-seeded Kindersley Sr. Klippers are also in action this weekend at home versus the Unity Miners. Game one goes Saturday, Feb. 1 at West Central Events Centre. Game two would be at Unity Community Centre on Feb. 7 with the third and deciding game back in Kindersley Feb. 11.
