HIGHLIGHTS:

The top team in the Big Six Hockey League this season made a statement to the remaining teams in the postseason on Sunday night at the Wawota Community Forum.

With Carnduff on the road in the series opener, Adrian Rubeniuk and the Red Devils posted a 4-0 shutout victory over the two-time defending Big Six champion Wawota Flyers to take a 1-0 lead in the Best-of-5 semi-final.

Scheduling issues for the ice in Carnduff required the two teams to flip-flop home ice in Games 1 and 2, but Carnduff wouldn't let the Flyers' fans have a chance to cheer at almost any point in the game. 

Brandon Trask Scored Two Goals In The First 4 Minutes.

The Red Devils opened the scoring just 1:12 into the game with Brandon Trask beating Guillaume Blouin blocker-side to make it 1-0 Carnduff. Trask scored his second of the game off a turnover just minutes later to make it 2-0 Red Devils after 20 minutes.

Neither team would be able to score in the second period, with Wawota having a goal disallowed halfway through the game. Rubeniuk made a save on a wrap-around, but the rebound kicked out to the slot. As Justin Lamontagne was shooting it into the open net, the net was knocked off and the whistle was blown. The referee immediately waved off the goal despite arguments from the Flyers, and the score remained 2-0 heading into the final frame. 

Wawota's Only Time Beating Rubeniuk Was Waved Off.

Mark Moriarty would then score two insurance goals for the Red Devils in the final frame, sniping a shot top corner to put Carnduff up 3-0 with the game still very much in doubt. Moriarty then scored off a faceoff with just over five minutes to play to seal the deal in a 4-0 Carnduff victory.

Adrian Rubeniuk made 32 saves in the shutout victory, his first game in almost a month for Carnduff.

Game 2 is back in Carnduff next Friday, March 2nd at 8pm, with Game 3 also being played in Carnduff next Sunday, March 4th at 5pm.

Carnduff's next game is this Tuesday as they host the Odessa/Vibank Bruins in Game 2 of their total-point Provincial 'B' series. Puck drop is at 8:30pm and the game can be heard on CJ1150 and discoverestevan.com.

READ MORE: Carnduff Defeats Odessa 5-4 In Provincial Game 1

READ MORE: Redvers Defeats Bienfait 6-4 In Game 1 Of Big Six Semi's

Mark Moriarty Scored Twice In The 3rd Period As Carnduff Shut Out Wawota 4-0 In Game One.