Kevin McBain
of The Clarion
The Junior Klippers defeated the Weyburn Red Wings twice last week, winning 3-2 on both Thursday and Friday nights.
The Klippers now have a 10-6-2-1 record for 23 points in the Olympic division of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League.
Klippers captain Tanner Thompson, presents veteran Herb Strutt with a Klippers sweater prior to Friday’s game, where the Klippers honoured those that have fought and continue to fight for our freedom. Members of the Kindersley Legion and air cadets were in attendance.
The team is now preparing to hit the road for games against Melfort on Friday and in the Battlefords on Tuesday night.
In both wins last week, the Klippers’ special teams were solid, scoring three times in the two games.
On Thursday, the Klippers started out strong. Will Van der Sloot scored on the power play for the lone goal of the first period.
Nik Malencia scored another on the power play early in the second and Eddie May added another before the end of the period to give the Klippers a commanding lead.
[emember_protected for=”2″ custom_msg=’For more on this story, please see the Nov. 15 print edition of The Clarion.’]
The Red Wings would come back but fell short in the third.
Goaltender Justen Close had another solid game in net, stopping 32 of 34 shots.
It was a costly win for the club, however, as Malencia received an intentional gross interference penalty for an incident with Red Wings goaltender Carter Pahir, who left the game and didn’t return.
Malencia was given a six-game suspension.
In addition, coach Geoff Grimwood was given a two-game suspension, meaning he missed Friday’s game and will miss the game in Melfort this week.
On Friday, the teams exchanged goals in the first and second periods. Brendon Borbely and Josh Patrician each scored their first of the season before captain Thompson scored the winner at the 11:15 mark of the third period. Close was again solid in net, stopping 37 of 39 shots.
“Anytime you get back-to-back wins is huge in this league,” said assistant coach Larry Wintoneak. “We have changed the way we play a bit, and doing some dump and chase and outworking other teams, and it’s working.”
[/emember_protected] 
