The Rosthern Wheat Kings celebrate Ben Zultok's (#24) third period goal during their 4-2 Game 1 win over the Shellbrook Elks in the Twin Rivers Hockey League finals at the Rosthern Jubilee Sports Centre on March 13, 2026. (Image Credit: Logan Lehmann/paNOW Staff)

By Logan Lehmann

Senior Hockey Playoffs

Late penalty trouble sinks Shellbrook as Rosthern takes Game 1 of TRHL finals

Mar 14, 2026 | 11:45 AM

The powerplay was firing on all cylinders for the Rosthern Wheat Kings on Friday night, as they rallied for four goals on the man advantage to down the Shellbrook Elks in Game 1 of the Twin Rivers Hockey League (TRHL) finals 4-2 at the Rosthern Jubilee Sports Centre. 

The Elks couldn’t stay out of the box as they amassed 42 penalty minutes in the contest. Aside from two 10-minute misconducts, Shellbrook tallied 12 penalty minutes in the third period, leading to three powerplay goals from Rosthern in the frame. 

Elks head coach Drew Ferster said the loss was their own fault. 

“I thought we had a good start. As the game went on, we just kind of lost some discipline and their powerplay got to us tonight. Four powerplay goals, that was a difference in the game.” 

“We got to take less penalties, got to be more disciplined,” he continued, when asked what needs to change in Game 2. “Like I said before, the powerplay killed us tonight. Can’t have the stuff after the whistle, got to stay out of the box.” 

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Wheat Kings head coach Travis Hebert said postgame that he wants to see more offence from his guys as the series shifts to Shellbrook for Game 2. 

“I think we just need to turn the forecheck on; we got to play in their zone a little bit more. They were up by about 10, 12 shots on us at one point in the game and we managed to turn it around, so I think that just means getting pucks and deep and forcing turnovers.” 

Brett Blatz and Ben Zultok each had a goal and an assist for Rosthern in the win as Marek Schneider and Aidan Arnold also found the back of the net, while Brayden Anderson collected the lone assist. Nathan Dancy managed 31 saves to collect the win as the Wheat Kings remain undefeated in the playoffs. 

For the Elks, Peyton Kachur led the scoresheet with a goal and an assist. Dallas Galloway also had a goal, while Matthew Kutnikoff, Matthew Flodell, and Cole Tanchuk each had an assist. In net, Alex Bell turned aside 38 shots and was handed the loss. 

COMPLETE BOX SCORE 

Following a scoreless first period, Shellbrook broke the ice early in the second while on the man advantage with a Galloway slapshot from the point to put the Elks on the board.  

It stayed that way until late in the frame when Blatz buried his second of the playoffs to tie the game for Rosthern heading into the third period. 

The final twenty started off with a bang as Arnold scored to give the Wheat Kings their first lead of the game less than two minutes into the period. Later, Zultok potted his team leading ninth of the postseason to double the lead before Schneider scored the highlight of the night, sniping his first of the playoffs top shelf on the short side to quickly make it 4-1. 

With less than two minutes to play, Shellbrook put the pressure on and did manage to get one back thanks to Kachur’s late marker, however the effort came too late as Rosthern hung on for the 4-2 victory. 

The series now heads to Shellbrook for Game 2 on Friday, March 20 with puck drop set for 8 p.m. Game 3 will be in Rosthern the following night on March 21, with that start slated for 8:30 p.m. 

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loganc.lehmann@pattisonmedia.com