Pat Canadians Fall in Overtime as Moose Jaw Warriors Force Game 4 in U18 AAA Final
For the third consecutive game in the Saskatchewan Male Under-18 AAA Hockey League championship series, the Regina Pat Canadians and Moose Jaw Warriors needed overtime to determine a winner. This time, however, the outcome favored Moose Jaw, as Deklin Larmer scored 3:54 into the extra frame on Wednesday night, securing a 3-2 victory for the Warriors at Cooperators Arena in Regina.
Larmer's Decisive Goal Shifts Momentum
Deklin Larmer's overtime goal not only handed the Pat Canadians their first loss of the playoffs but also forced a fourth game in the best-of-five league final. The Warriors' triumph came after Regina had won the first two games of the series, both in overtime, with scores of 3-2 and 4-3 respectively. Larmer described the goal as the biggest of his career, emphasizing the emotional boost it provides as the series shifts to Moose Jaw for Game 4 on Friday night.
"It felt awesome," Larmer said post-game. "And now just to take this momentum back home to Moose Jaw with our fans, and just how we're rolling now off this high, I think it's really good."
Wawryk's Goaltending Steals the Show
Warriors goaltender Steven Wawryk delivered a standout performance, making 45 saves on 47 shots to keep Moose Jaw in contention. His efforts were particularly crucial early in the game when Regina came out strong, creating several high-quality scoring chances. Wawryk's point-blank stop on a Regina powerplay just five minutes into the first period set the tone, followed by another sprawling save minutes later.
Warriors head coach Trevor Weisgerber praised Wawryk's consistency, noting, "He's been lights out all year. And tonight he was exceptional. He obviously gave us an opportunity to win, like he does every night, but he was really, really good tonight."
Regina's Early Lead and Physical Play
Despite Wawryk's heroics, the Pat Canadians managed to break through 13 minutes into the first period when Liam Pue faked a shot and maneuvered around Wawryk to give Regina a 1-0 lead. The game intensified physically, with Regina's Ethan Young hitting the crossbar before Moose Jaw tied it up with 1:05 left in the period. Carson Park beat Pat Canadians goaltender Adam Muntain to make it 1-1, setting the stage for a tightly contested battle.
Looking Ahead to Game 4
With the series now at 2-1 in favor of Regina, Game 4 promises to be a pivotal matchup. Wawryk, an 18-year-old who played AAA hockey in Notre Dame last year, remains focused on the task ahead. "It's a great feeling, but you can't lose your head about you," he said. "We've still got two more games, and we've still got Friday to focus on. It's going to be a packed barn and home ice advantage. It's awesome playing in front of those fans, but we can't get over our heads, because then we've got no chance."
The Pat Canadians, who had a chance to clinch a second straight league championship on home ice in front of a jam-packed crowd, now face the challenge of regrouping as the series moves to Moose Jaw. The Warriors, buoyed by their overtime victory, aim to capitalize on home-ice advantage and extend the championship battle.
