Neepawa Farmers start playoff with dominant win

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Published on Wednesday, February 10, 2016

Ian Hockin (12) of Neepawa controls the puck in the corner, during the Farmers’ first playoff  game on Tuesday, Feb. 9

The Neepawa Banner/Neepawa Press

The Neepawa Farmers opened up the first round of the Tiger Hills Hockey League (THHL) playoffs in impressive fashion, securing a 7-1 win over the Cartwright Clippers.

The best-of-three series began on Tuesday, Feb. 9, at the Yellowhead Centre and saw both teams hoping to take control early in the game. Neither side, however, was able to score in the opening period.

In the second, Neepawa took over the tempo of play early, resulting in a goal just 47 seconds into the period. Clarke Rempel slipped a shot past the Cartwright goaltender to make it 1-0. Less than a minute later, the Neepawa lead doubled, as Brett Dreger scored on a very impressive single handed effort.The Farmers maintained constant pressure in the Clippers defensive zone for much of the remainder of the period. That effort paid off again at the 10:10 mark, with Ian Kerkowich scoring on what appeared to be a screen shot. Rodney White and Riley Kolesar added two more to give the home side a commanding 5-0 advantage before Cartwright scored its first of the evening  on a power play. After 40 minutes of play, it was Neepawa who held on to a 5-1 advantage. 

A pair of additional goals in the third ensured that the Farmers would leave the ice as victors, taking game one 7-1. Seven different players registered goals for the Farmers, but Lance Nugent and Riley Kolesar led the way with four points (1-3) apiece. Rodney White had a goal and a pair of assists on the evening, while Curtis Nelson picked up the win between the pipes.

Game two of this best-of-three series will be played on Saturday, Feb. 13 in Cartwright. Game three, if needed will return to the Yellowhead Centre in Neepawa on Sunday, Feb. 14. Opening face-off is tentatively scheduled for 6:30 pm.