The Warren Mercs wrapped up the SEMHL regular season last week with three losses in four nights, falling 7–6 to the Portage Islanders, 6–3 to the Ile des Chênes Northstars and 10–1 to the Winkler Royals.
Despite the results, Warren showed flashes of offensive depth and resilience as the club now turns its attention to postseason play.
Warren opened the stretch Tuesday night in Portage, pushing the Islanders to the limit in a back-and-forth contest before surrendering the game-winner late in the third period. Drake Lindsay opened the scoring just 2:35 into the game, with Dasek Sobkow adding another first-period marker as the teams traded chances early.
The Mercs clawed back repeatedly, getting goals from Patrick D’Amico and Karson King in the second period before King added another early in the third. Carson Ouellette tied the game at 6–6 midway through the final frame, but Portage’s Derrick Brooks scored the eventual winner at 16:03. Goaltender Travis Bosch made 41 saves in the loss.
The following night in Warren, the Mercs dropped a 6–3 decision to Ile des Chênes after falling behind 3–0 in the opening period. Eric Swanson got Warren on the board early in the second, followed by a shorthanded goal from Gianluca Esteves to briefly pull the Mercs back into the game.
Drake Lindsay added a third-period goal for Warren, but the Northstars sealed the win with a power-play marker early in the third. Evan Baty and Bosch split duties in goal, combining for 16 saves.
Warren closed the regular season Saturday night in Winkler, running into a red-hot Royals squad that capitalized on special teams. Winkler scored twice on the power play and added a shorthanded goal in a lopsided 10–1 decision.
Justin Hamonic scored the lone goal for the Mercs midway through the third period on the power play, with assists from Gianluca Esteves and Johnny Lazo. Baty stopped 23 shots in the loss as Winkler pulled away late.
The Mercs finished the regular season sixth in the SEMHL standings with an 8-10 record and 16 points, tied with Portage but ahead on goal differential.
With the regular season now complete, the Mercs will prepare for the SEMHL playoffs, where all nine teams qualify. The post-season opens with a Survivor Series between the teams finishing eighth and ninth, with the winner advancing to face the first-place team. Following that round, the league will move into best-of-five series for the first two rounds, with a best-of-seven final to determine the SEMHL champion. Warren will await confirmation of its playoff matchup and schedule in the coming days.
