This article will be updated following each game in the Best-of-5 semi-final series between the Innovex Estevan Bears and Regina Pat Canadians.
BEST-OF-5 SERIES: Regina Wins Series 3-0
GAME 1 – Bears @ Regina – Tue. Mar. 10th – REG 5-2 over EST
The Innovex Estevan Bears had a quick turnaround to start the SMAAAHL semi-final after eliminating Swift Current on Sunday, facing the league-leading Regina Pat Canadians less than 48 hours later.
Regina would open the scoring just 33 seconds into the game as Mahlon Wiley would beat Jaxon Kuchinka, who started Game 1 in place of Evan Hutcheon. Malaki Martin extended the lead to 2-0 at 13:49 after two Bears defencemen collided into each other and Martin capitalized on the turnover. The Bears would trim the deficit to 2-1 at the 16:38 mark on the powerplay, as Boston Schmidt scored his playoff-leading 7th goal from Dylan Brass and Jaxon Sedor.
Regina restored their two-goal lead just 2:01 into the 2nd period as Grady Hodgins beat Kuchinka with a backhander to make it 3-1. The Bears were unable to respond through the rest of the period, and the Pat C’s would make it 4-1 heading into the 3rd as Martin scored his second of the game at the 17:56 mark.
Regina extended their lead to 5-1 just 2:59 into the final frame as Eli Héroux beat Kuchinka with a wrist shot. The Bears generated chances but were unable to cut into the lead until the final minutes. Off a turnover, Joe Watson buried a rebound off a Rhys Petersmeyer shot at the 15:19 to make it 5-2. That would be as close as it would get as Regina took Game 1 on their home ice.
GAME 2 – Pat C’s @ Estevan – Fri. Mar. 13th – REG 7-4 over EST
The Innovex Estevan Bears came flying out of the tunnel to start Game 2 looking to even the series against Maddox Schultz and the Regina Pat Canadians.
The Bears opened the scoring on the powerplay at the 10:38 mark with Boston Schmidt scoring his playoff-leading 8th goal from Brendan Jones and Gunner Moore. Dylan Brass scored his 2nd of the playoffs with only 1:40 remaining from Schmidt and Ethan Boehm to make it 2-0. However, Ryker Doka got Regina on the board with only 17 seconds left to make it 2-1 after the 1st period.
The Pat C’s tied the game 5:43 into the 2nd period as Malaki Martin beat Evan Hutcheon to make it 2-2. Hutcheon bounced back with a huge pad save on a Liam Pue breakaway just minutes later, and made an in-tight save on Nathan Gardiner shortly after that to keep it at 2-2. But Regina kept coming and at the 13:49 mark, Grady Hodgins scored to make it 3-2 after two periods.
The Bears evened the game at 3-3 just 3:55 into the 3rd period as Boehm poked home the loose puck from Brass and Schmidt for his 3rd goal of the playoffs. Just minutes later at 5:30, Rhys Petersmeyer wristed a shot past Adam Muntain’s blocker to make it 4-3 Bears with Brayden Church and Van Huebner assisting. Regina tied the game once again at the 8:40 mark as Hodgins buried a rebound from a shot off the post to make it 4-4.
The Pat C’s almost took the lead midway through the period with both Schultz and Pue getting golden opportunities, but Evan Hutcheon was up to the task. First, Pue sent a cross-crease pass to a wide open Schultz who one-timed the puck. But Hutcheon stretched out with his left pad for a spectacular save. Later that same shift, Schultz broke in down the wing alone and tried to fire a shot five-hole which Hutcheon turned aside. The rebound went into the corner where Gardiner set up Pue in the slot for a wide open snapshot, but Hutcheon got back into position and robbed Pue with a dazzling glove save.
But the Pat C’s continued to pressure and once again, it would be the line of Martin, Hodgins and Brady Vipond scoring their 4th goal of the game as Vipond beat Hutcheon at 13:44 to put Regina up 5-4. It would be the 4th lead change of the game.
The Bears earned a powerplay with 4:33 left to play, but were unable to beat Muntain for the tying goal. The best chance came with 3:00 left as Petersmeyer dumped the puck in from the neutral zone around the glass, the puck bounced out from the corner, hit the side of the net and came out front with an empty cage, but Muntain pounced on the puck just moments before Petersmeyer could get there to put the puck into the net.
With time winding down and Hutcheon pulled for the extra attacker, Pue would intercept the puck at his own blue line and fire it down the ice and into the net to make it 6-4 with only 55 seconds remaining. Martin scored his 2nd of the game into the empty net with only 2 seconds left to round out the scoring at 7-4 for Regina.
The Bears now trail the Best-of-5 series (2-0) and must win the next three games, starting with Game 3 the very next night, in order to advance to the SMAAAHL final.
GAME 3 – Bears @ Regina – Sat. Mar. 14th – REG 7-2 over EST
Less than 24 hours after a heartbreaking loss at home in Game 2, the Innovex Estevan Bears travelled back to Regina for Game 3 needing a win to keep their season alive.
The Bears got off to a good start, controlling the play for much of the 1st period. At the 13:49 mark, Boston Schmidt scored his playoff-leading 9th goal to put the Bears up 1-0 with assists to Ethan Boehm and Van Huebner. But before the period ended, Regina responded as Eli Héroux scored with only 1:22 remaining to tie the game 1-1 heading into the 2nd period.
That late goal seemed to spark Regina who ambushed the Bears early in the 2nd period to jump out to a big lead. At the 1:22 mark, Grady Hodgins finished off a pretty passing play for a powerplay goal to put the Pat C’s up 2-1. Minutes later at 3:56, Cooper Bratton went end-to-end beat Evan Hutcheon top corner to make it 3-1. And shortly after that at 5:24, Ryker Doka’s point shot found it’s way through a screen to suddenly make it 4-1. Regina increased its lead to 5-1 before the intermission as Heroux tapped in his second of the game off a diving pass by Nathan Gardiner at the 14:09 mark.
The Bears needed a quick start in the 3rd period to try and get back in the game, but instead it would be Regina adding to their lead. Mahlon Wiley scored off a rebound at the 2:07 mark to make it 6-1. Then at 7:02, Hodgins scored on a breakaway for his second of the game to make it 7-1. The Bears were unable to mount any comeback, despite Brendan Jones scoring from Gunner Moore and Huebner at the 15:20 mark to round out the scoring in a 7-2 final in Game 3.
With the victory, Regina sweeps the series and advances to the SMAAAHL final to defend their title against either the Moose Jaw Warriors or Saskatoon Blazers. The Bears, who qualified for the semi-final round for the first time in team history, were eliminated with the loss.
