It was another fine week for the Yorkton Terriers who earned five of a possible six points this week to stay atop the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League Sherwood Conference.
The Terriers sit with a record of 7-1-1-2 for 17 points, getting points from all but one start so far this season. The 17 points is not just best in the Sherwood, but in the SJHL, although the Terriers 11-games are the most played in the league-to-date.
Estevan and Kindersley are tied for second in the Sherwood, each having 10 points. Weyburn has eight, and Notre Dame and Melville sit tied with seven each.
Friday the Terriers suffered their first home ice loss of the season, but still managed to gain a point, as it took and overtime shoot-out for the Millionaires to get the win.
Roger Tagoona gave Melville the lead with a goal at 16:04 of the first.
The second was scoreless, but Blaine Tendler would score the equalizer early in the third period on the powerplay.
The five-minute, four-on-four overtime period would decide nothing, forcing the shoot-out.Melville goaltender Kyle Jahraus would turn away all three Terrier shooters, while the Mills would put one past Devin Peters in the Yorkton net for the win.
Peters faced 26 regulation time shots in the loss.
Terrier Captain Blaine Tendler said the loss did not sit well with the Terriers who sat in a reflective, quiet dressing room after the game.
"We just didn't play our game tonight. We got off to a little bit of a slow start," he said.
Terrier head coach Trent Cassan said the team had a bit of a roller coaster ride in the loss.
"I thought at times we played pretty inspired, and at other times we seemed a little flat," he said, adding the shoot-out still gave the Terriers a point. "One is better than none."
Tendler said as a team the Terriers won't take losing at home well.
"We want to make this the hardest place to play in the league," he said.
Tendler said the game was one "we're going to learn from." He said the first lesson is simply recognizing "this league is so close If you don't show up to work every night anyone can knock you off."
Cassan said the Terriers have to recognize that every game will be a challenge,
"This is a very good league. There's a lot of parity," he said.
Tendler said the Millionaires, in spite of sitting tied for last in the Conference came to Yorkton ready to play.
"Give Melville a lot of credit. They just wanted it a lot more than we did," he said.
Cassan agreed the Mills played well, in particular Jahraus in the Melville nets.
"Their goaltender played well. He made some big saves," he said, adding "I thought they played a good road game."
The Millionaires especially looked good limiting the Terrier chances on their powerplay chances."Melville pressures hard on the penalty kill," said Tendler, adding as a result, "we probably didn't get as many shots as we like."
Cassan said the powerplay was not a concern in his mind.
"Our powerplay's been pretty good all year long," he said, adding they still scored their lone goal with a man advantage. "We'd have liked to get a couple more," but then added the Mills simply did their job.
The two teams went back into action Saturday in Melville, and this time overtime would not be a factor.
Nathan Murray gave Yorkton a 1-0 lead in the first, with Zak Majkowski making it 2-0 in the second.
In the third both offences ignited.
Dylan Hanson and Brayden Metz scored in the first 6:30 of the third to tie the game for the Millionaires, but Yorkton's offence would roll the rest of the way.
Craig Eisenhut, Kelly Leismeister on the powerplay and Majkowski with his second all scored to give the Terriers a 5-2 victory.
Peters had the win in the Yorkton nets facing 31 shots, while Jahraus had the loss for the Mills, facing 32.
Last TuesdayThe Humboldt Broncos were at the Farrell Agencies Arena Oct. 5.
Nathan Murray scored the only goal of the first period to give Yorkton a 1-0 lead.
In the second Yorkton extended the lead to 3-0 on goals by Craig Eisenhut and Kyle McLeod.
In the third the Broncos would make it interesting scoring twice, but the Terriers would hang on for a 3-2 win. Justin Buzzeo and Riley Gillies scored the Humboldt goals.
Peters faced 34 shots in getting the win in the Terrier net.
Player addition
The Terriers have added another player with Western Hockey League experience signing Brennan Tutt who saw limited action in Seattle last season due to injury.
"He (Tutt) came in last week," said Cassan, who noted Tutt is an 18-year-old forward "with good size and a good long reach."
Cassan said he will work Tutt into situations to see where he fits best, adding "he hasn't played in a game situation for a while."
The Terriers also made a trade, sending Gary Rai to Waywayseecappo of the Manitoba Junior Hockey League for future considerations.
Up nextThe Terriers have a busy home schedule with three games at the Farrell Agencies Arena this week.
Weyburn were scheduled to visit last night (Tuesday), but results were not available at press time.
Tonight (Wednesday) Estevan are the opposition.
The LaRonge Icewolves are in the city for action Saturday.
