The SMAAAHL Championship will come down to a single afternoon showdown.
Before a loud crowd of roughly 2,400 fans on Friday night in Moose Jaw, the Winmar Warriors defeated the Regina Pat Canadians 5–1 in Game 4, evening the league final at two games apiece and setting up a decisive Game 5 on Sunday at 12:30 PM in Regina. The winner will be crowned 2025‑26 SMAAAHL Champions.
Warriors Strike Early, Hold Momentum
Regina opened the night with strong pressure, generating early looks and forcing Moose Jaw goaltender Steven Wawryk into several key stops. Wawryk’s composure proved pivotal—his saves in the opening minutes allowed the Warriors to settle in before capitalizing on their chances.
Moose Jaw struck three times in the first period, building a 3–0 lead on goals from Tyler Hudec, Ryder Gilroy, and Ryan Gibbs. Despite Regina outshooting the Warriors 13–9 in the frame, the home side carried the finish.
Regina Pushes Back, But Moose Jaw Extends Lead
The Pat Canadians found life midway through the second period when Nathan Gardiner buried a power‑play marker, assisted by Ryker Doka and Maddox Schultz, cutting the deficit to 3–1.
But Moose Jaw responded with two more before the intermission—goals from Carson Deichert and Hudson Sayers—restoring control and stretching the lead to 5–1.
The third period saw no scoring, with both teams tightening defensively as the Warriors closed out the win.
Goaltending and Special Teams
- Ben Meyer made 21 saves for Regina.
- Steven Wawryk stopped 26 of 27 shots for Moose Jaw, earning the win.
- Regina went 1-for-2 on the power play, while Moose Jaw finished 0-for-1.
All Eyes on Saturday
With the series now tied 2–2, the SMAAAHL title will be decided in a single, winner‑take‑all matchup—echoing the league’s own storyline of a season culminating in a one‑game showdown for provincial supremacy.
Game 5 is set for 12:30 PM on Saturday in Regina.
The Pat Canadians will look to harness home‑ice energy, lean on their depth, and rediscover the assertive, structured game that carried them through the postseason. Moose Jaw, meanwhile, arrives with momentum and confidence after forcing the series the distance.
Everything comes down to one game. One rink. One champion.
