The Red River Mudbugs built an early lead and held on through a Landmark rally, escaping with a 5–4 shootout win in Hanover–Tache Junior Hockey League action.
Red River struck first late in the opening period when alternate captain Caleb Boulanger converted at 12:48 from Ziko Pankratz and Gavin Hildebrandt.
The Mudbugs extended their lead in the second. Griffin Hilderbrand made it 2–0 at 5:14 before Lukas Banman added another at 12:08. Landmark responded with a power-play goal from Nicholas Miller, but Red River regained momentum when alternate captain Ty Tarnick scored shorthanded at 14:52 to restore a two-goal cushion. The Blues closed the gap before the intermission on Dylan Knutt’s marker at 19:40.
Landmark carried that momentum into the third, tying the game with goals from Jake Esteves just 57 seconds in and Clint Plett at 11:19. Neither side scored in overtime, sending the game to a shootout.
Red River sealed the win with goals from Reece Fehr and Tarnick, while Mudbugs goaltender Connor Parago stopped both Landmark shooters he faced in the skills competition. Parago delivered a strong performance throughout the night, finishing with 42 saves.
Despite going 0-for-5 on the power play, the Mudbugs leaned on timely scoring and resilient goaltending to secure the extra point. Landmark finished 1-for-3 with the man advantage.
This Saturday Mitchell is at Red River at 8 p.m. at the St. Jean Arena.
