WEST SENIOR WEEKEND RECAP: Red Wings punch ticket for finals, Cataracts inch closer

The Deer Lake Red Wings punched their ticket to the Central West Senior Hockey League finals this weekend, dominating the Stephenville Lightning in a pair of games on Friday and Saturday night to complete the four-game sweep. 

On Friday night, Valentin Claireaux led the charge with a five-point night (2G, 3A) and Brandon Hynes recorded a hat trick to lift the Red Wings to a 9-1 win over the Lightning in Game Three at the Stephenville Dome. 

The goals continued the following day, this time with Michael Hynes picking up a hat trick to lift the Wings to a 5-1 win and series sweep. 

Former New Jersey Devils goaltender Keith Kincaid stopped 38 of the 39 shots he faced to help Deer Lake lock down the series on Saturday. 

Also on Saturday night, the Grand Falls Windsor Cataracts took a stranglehold on the second CWSHL semi-final series, defeating the Corner Brook Royals 4-1 in Corner Brook on Saturday night to take a 3-1 series lead. 

Jordan Maher had Corner Brook leading 1-0 in the first period, but four consecutive goals from Cody Drover, Brent Broaders, Aidan Locke and Kurt Etchegary helped seal the deal for the Cats. 

Grand Falls Windsor will look to close out the series in Game Five, which takes place on Friday, February 27 at 8:00 p.m. at Joe Byrne Memorial Stadium in Grand Falls.