YORKTON - A make-up game Sunday as the final regular season contest for the Yorkton Terriers still mattered in terms of Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League playoff match-ups.
The Terriers needed a point for a better seeding for the opening round as the Weyburn Red Wings arrived at the Westland Insurance Arena. A point meaning, they would not have to face Humboldt with the second best record in the SJHL’s first round.
The first period saw a powerplay effort by Zach McIntyre at 9:10 giving the Terriers a 1-0 lead.
Kirk Mullen tied the game with a goal at 13:06.
The tie held until 13:33 of the second period when the Red Wings inched ahead 2-1 via a powerplay goal by Matthew Reidy.
In the third the Terriers went hard after the point they needed in the standings.
Tyson Janzen tied the score at 3:43, with Colby Varna putting the home team up a goal with a marker 27 seconds later.
An unassisted marker by Erik Boers followed at 6:49 and Boers was back to round out a 5-2 win with a powerplay goal at 11:28.
Kael DePape was in net for Yorkton facing 23 shots in the win, with Dazza Mitchell for the Red Wings taking the loss facing 38 shots.
Terrier head coach Mat Hehr said he wasn’t sure why the Terriers came out rather flat in the game.
“I don’t know what happened. It was a very slow start,” he said, but added in the third they dominated for the win. “It was a very strong 20.”
The Terriers finish the regular season with a record of 29-22-1-6 for 65 points, second best in the Viterra Division well back of Estevan with 91, and sit sixth overall in the SJHL.
Melville was third in the Viterra with 44 points, and Weyburn fourth with a league-worst 31 points, both missing the playoffs.
The Terriers find out Monday evening who their first round opponent will be. A win in the final regular season game of the campaign by Battlefords will give the North Stars third overall, and Yorkton as an opponent. If Notre Dame defeats the North Stars the Terriers take on Melfort.
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