The Eston Ramblers and Elrose Aces went toe-to-toe last Saturday, with the Ramblers coming out on top 7-2. The Ramblers are in first place with 25 points with just five regular season games to go.
Crossroads staff
SVHL
The Eston Ramblers have taken over first place in the Sask. Valley Hockey League – for now at least.
The Ramblers have won three straight and with just five games to go this season, they have a record of 12 wins, two losses and one overtime loss for 25 points heading into action this week.
They overtook the Outlook Ice Hawks, who lost two straight last weekend and with four games remaining have a record of 12-4 for 24 points.
Also in the race is Kyle, with 22 points (11-3) with six games remaining. Beechy has 21 points (10-4-0-1) with five games remaining and Central Butte has 20 points (10-4) with six games remaining.
These five teams will continue to jostle for playoff positioning as the countdown to the playoffs continue.
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Scores from this past week: Jan. 14 – Delisle 1 at Beechy 10; Loreburn at Eston (postponed). Jan. 13 – Kyle 2 at Central Butte 4; Elrose 2 at Eston 7; Kenaston 4 at Outlook 7. Jan. 12 – Eston 6 at Central Butte 5; Loreburn 2 at Delisle 5; Kenaston 1 at Kyle 10; and Outlook 5 at Beechy 7. Jan. 10 – Eston 12 at Elrose 2.
Games coming up this week: Jan. 17 – Central Butte was scheduled to be in Loreburn. Jan. 19 – Kyle in Loreburn; Outlook in Delisle and Elrose in Central Butte. Jan. 20 – Elrose in Beechy; Kenaston and Loreburn and Outlook will visit Kyle. Jan. 21 – Central Butte in Beechy and Delisle in Kenaston. Jan. 24 – Beechy in Kyle.
Complete standings: 1. Eston – 15 games played, 12 wins, 2 losses, 1 overtime loss, 25 points. 2. Outlook – 16-12-4-0-24; 3. Kyle 14-11-3-0-22; 4. Beechy 15-10-4-1-21; 5. Central Butte 14-10-4-0-20; 6. Delisle 16-10-0-12; 7. Elrose 15-3-12-0-6; 8. Kenaston 16-2-14-0-4; 9. Loreburn 15-2-13-0-4.
Player of the week: Alex Barnes of the Beechy Bombers.
Provincial playoffs
The provincial playoff schedules have been released and the SVHL will be well represented with eight teams competing in three divisions:
- Senior B: Outlook vs Rosthern, Eston vs Unity, Beechy vs Biggar (1st round bye)
- Senior C: Delisle vs Drake
- Senior D: Loreburn vs Luseland, Central Butte vs Stasbourg; Kenaston vs Edam and Kyle vs Craik – Game 1 Jan. 27, 7 p.m. in Kyle, Game 2 – Feb. 3 at 7:30 p.m. at Craik.
SWHL
The top three teams in the Sask West Hockey League have been decided.
The Wilkie Outlaws have long clinched first place with 19 straight wins this season.
Macklin and Kindersley will battle it out for second place. Both have played 17 games. Macklin has 23 points and Kindersley has 22.
Unity and Biggar both have 15 points with three games remaining. Eatonia has 12 points with five games left. Kerrobert also has 12 points, but with just four games remaining and Luseland has eight points with four games left on the schedule.
Last week: Jan. 10 – Biggar 6 in Wilkie 10. Jan. 12 – Luseland 3 in Biggar 7; Wilkie 5 in Macklin 1; Eatonia 5 in Kindersley 6. Jan. 13 – Unity 3 in Eatonia 4 OT; Luseland 6 in Wilkie 16; Biggar 6 in Kindersley 5.
Games this week: Jan. 19 – Kindersley in Kerrobert; Eatonia in Luseland; and Macklin in Unity. Jan. 20 – Kerrobert in Eatonia; and Biggar in Macklin. Jan. 21 – Luseland in Eatonia.
League playoffs
All eight teams will make the playoffs. The format is 1 vs 8, 2 vs 7, 3 vs 6 and 4 vs 5 in the best-of-three opening round. Semifinals are the best of five and finals are set for five, unless the two teams wish to extend it to the best of seven.
Provincials
Seven SWHL teams will compete for provincial championship banners this year.
- Senior A – Wilkie will take on the Hillmond Hitmen in the opening round series. This best of three must be completed by Feb. 19.
- Kindersley will take on the Shaunavon Badgers and this must be completed by Feb. 19 as well.
- Senior B – The Biggar Nationals are matched up with the Beechy Bombers in the B semifinals that must be completed by March 5.
- Senior C – The Eatonia Huskies get a bye into the semifinals where they will play the winner of Hodgeville and Gull Lake. This must be completed by March 5.
- Macklin will take on the Hafford Hawks in a series to be completed by Feb. 19.
- Kerrobert will take on the Lanigan Pirates in their first round series to be completed by Feb. 19.
- Senior D – the Luseland Mallards will take on the SVHL’s Loreburn 19ers in a first round matchup to be completed by Feb. 19.
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