YANKTON – The Aberdeen Cougars were solid from start to finish in a 3-2 boys’ hockey victory over Yankton on Saturday night.

“It was probably the best effort we have got out of these guys,” said Aberdeen coach Dana Myhre. “Huge win for us. Total team effort.”

Carter Vilhauer opened the scoring in the first period. Yankton answered to tie game, but Trayke Roehrich responded with a goal just 11 seconds later to give the Cougars a lead they wouldn’t lose.

Wheeler Malsam added an important insurance goal in the second period. The Bucks scored in the first minute of the third period, but were unable to find the equalizer.

“I thought we outworked them for the first two periods and kind of hung on for the third period,” Myhre said, “but they did what they needed.”

The same two teams are back at it today in a battle for playoff positioning.

Aberdeen Cougars 2 1 0 – 3

Yankton Bucks 1 0 1 – 2

First Period: 1, AC, Carter Vilhauer (Briggs Medill, Trayke Roehrich), 4:18; 2, Y, Rylan Murphy (Brayden Byrkeland), 1:26; 3, AC, Roehrich (Vilhauer), 1:15.

Second Period: 4, AC, Wheeler Malsam (Derek Holland, Austin Schmit), 8:29.

Third Period: 5, Y, Tucker Renken (Jack Pedersen), 16:04.

Goalies: Aberdeen Cougars, Andrew Weisenburger; Yankton Bucks, Luke Moeller.