The fierce rivalry between the Weyburn Red Wings and Estevan Bruins was as evident off the ice as on, Friday night at the Colosseum.

While a packed crowd watched Weyburn defeat Estevan 3-2 in a hard hitting, play-off quality game - which clinched second place for Weyburn in the south division - a smaller group caught some intense action off the ice afterward.

Not content to savour the Wings' victory and go home, some Weyburn fans hung around to heckle the Bruins as they walked off the ice.

Estevan's assistant coach, Brad Pierson, took particular offense and began a screaming match with some of the hecklers. When the shouting turned into shoving, Colosseum security had to intervene and get between Pierson and fans.

Although SJHL president Wayne Kartusch was at the game (in fact, he was spotted in the back hall where the tussle took place a short time afterward), he says he didn't see or hear about the incident.

Kartusch has no plans to look into a suspension for Pierson's behaviour.

"Not unless I get a report on it," he said in a phone interview Monday.

Estevan head coach Nick Sereggela defended his colleague's actions, saying Pierson was egged on and had to respond.

"You pay your money, you can yell all you want. But in the heat of the moment you've gotta expect it coming back," said Sereggela. "My guys aren't just going to sit there and take it on or off the ice. I don't think anybody would."

The coach added the Weyburn-Estevan rivalry is alive and well with close-scoring, rough games that bring in the fans - a plus for both teams.

Other off-ice violence was directed at Weyburn head coach Dwight McMillan, who got beaned in the back with a water bottle from the Estevan bench. Kartusch is looking into that incident.

This is the second time McMillan has been the target of a water bottle attack. The first was during a game against Lebret. The offending player, Chad Nicholson, was given a six-game suspension.

Prior to the Estevan game McMillan jokingly said he could ward off future flying projectiles by wearing his hard hat from work.

Game action on the ice saw Weyburn's first goal scored on a one-man effort by Jacob Gradwell, who broke through the Bruins' defence for a winner.

Estevan got a break in the first period when referees called a penalty shot after Estevan's Mike Schlamp was tripped. Schlamp beat Weyburn goaltender Terry Denike to score the Bruins' first goal.

While the Wings were able to get some shots on net in the first period, there was little sustained pressure on rebounds. The period ended 1-1.

In the second period Weyburn was unable to capitalize on power play opportunities. Estevan didn't have the same problem. Their second goal was scored while Weyburn was shorthanded following a controversial unsportsmanlike conduct penalty against Ryan Rome, ending the period 2-1 for the Bruins.

But Weyburn was able to make the power play count in the third period with a goal scored by Jason Vermeulen. Their third goal came nine minutes later. The crowd erupted as Mike Costley scored on a hard drive to the Bruins' net, ending the game 3-2.

"We had an outstanding crowd out for a playoff-type hockey game," said McMillan, sitting behind his desk in the Red Wings office after the Colosseum was cleared. "Everyone played their game tonight."

Strict refereeing prevented the fisticuffs from flying, with 10 minors called against Estevan and 12 minors and one major against Weyburn.

Although there weren't any fights, there was some damage done to a couple of Wings' faces. Ryan Rome went down in the first period after being slashed on the cheek, and Christian Cote took a trip to the hospital to get his cut lower lip stitched up.

"You make sure you keep an ice bag on that," McMillan told Cote, as he made it back to the Colosseum before the game was over.

The Wings are now second in the south division. This means that going into playoffs they will play the third and fifth place teams in the first round, in a round-robin format.

"The players have hung in there with injuries and took us to second place, and that's a big credit to them," said McMillan.

Due to publishing deadlines the Review was unable to provide coverage of Tuesday night's home game against Yorkton in the Feb. 23 edition.