The Swift Current Home Hardware Legionnaires lost their playoff opener 3-2 to the visiting Warman Wildcats on Sunday.
The third seeded Legionnaires were fighting uphill against the sixth seeded Wildcats all night, never able to draw even after allowing the first two goals.
Ty Dauvin scored for Warman in the first period and Nash Curniski added to the lead in the second period. Carter Moen got the Legionnaires on the board in the second period on the power play with assists from Jackson Fox and Jake Hargrave.
Jack Lavallee restored the two-goal lead for Warman in the third period. Sam Kirwan replied for the Legionnaires with assists from Fox and Connor Rieger.
Corben Schnurr made 22 saves on 24 shots in the win. Berney Weston took the loss with 31 saves on 34 shots.
Game two of the Saskatchewan Male U18 AAA Hockey League best-of-five series will be Wednesday in Warman.
