AXEMEN POST GAME ONE UPSET OVER BUFFS

Carter Cockburn scored two of his four goals late in the first period, busting open game one in the best of three series, sending the Swan Valley Axemen to a 6-3 win over the Theodore Buffalos on Thursday night.

The Buffalos now find themselves in a precarious position, facing elimination just one game into the postseason after winning the championship last season and pushing the Rocanville Tigers to the full five game limit in the league final two years ago.

The Axemen never trailed in this game although the Buffs did get to within 4-3 early in the third after falling behind 4-1 in the second.  

Cockburn got the ball rolling with a powerplay goal and then capitalized on a giveaway before Emery Olauson got Theodore on the board with a heavy, quick release wrist shot early in the second.  Kirsten Bender and Karter Prieston increased the lead but Dylan Johnson narrowed it to 4-2 late in the second.

Olauson scored his second of the night to draw Theodore to within one but Cockburn completed the hat trick with a back breaking goal midway through the third and then potted his fourth, late, into an empty net to seal it.

Game three in the series goes Monday, February 19th at 3pm in Minitonas.  The Buffs will play game one of their Provincial D series against the Central Butte Flyers on Saturday.

Each of the other three series will begin on Friday with Cote at Canora, Churchbridge at Rocanville, and Wapella at Langenburg. All three starts are 8pm and each series is a best of three.  The winner of Swan Valley-Theodore will play the winner of Cote-Canora.  Churchbridge/Rocanville winner plays the Wapella/Langenburg winner.