The Yorkton Terriers had a busy weekend consisting of their annual sportsman鈥檚 dinner, parent appreciation night and a two-game series on home ice against the Flin Flon Bombers 鈥� the second place team in the current Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League standings.
Going into the weekend, the Terriers were sitting in eighth place in the standings. They had faced off against Flin Flon only twice this season, and had lost both games. So they knew it was going to be a tough challenge over the weekend.
The Terriers ended up splitting the series with the Bombers, winning on Friday night after the game ended in a shootout, and losing on Saturday. This bumped them up to seventh place in the league standings.
On Friday night, approximately 1000 fans filled the Farrell Agencies Arena to watch the first home game in two weeks for the Terriers.
The first period of play saw no goals from either team. Matt Vernon took to net for the Terriers that night, with Zac Robidoux in net for the Bombers.
Once the second period began, the goals started to roll聽 for both teams.
The Terriers started the scoring just 30 seconds into the period, on a power play. Jordan Ross scored his tenth goal of the season. Dakota Odgers got the first assist on the goal, and Shane Sherban got the second assist.
Minutes later, the Bombers answered to tie up the game.
But shortly after came the second goal for the Terriers. Carson Welke got his twelfth goal of the season, with the assist from Jordan Ross.
And again, the Bombers would respond, this time on their power play. The second period would end with a score of 2-2.
Just 45 seconds into the third period, Terriers鈥� captain Corwin Stevely swerved around multiple defenders and connected the puck with the back of the net for his tenth goal of the season. The assists came from Jordan Ross and Tyler Baier. The score was 3-2.
Another power play for the Terriers would result in another goal, bumping the score up to 4-2. This goal came from Shane Sherban, his fourth of the season, with the assists from Jordan Ross and Jared Legien.
What seemed like a comfortable lead in the third period would quickly end for the Terriers, when the Bombers landed another two goals in the last ten minutes of play.
The final score of regulation play was 4-4. So, it was into overtime. The five extra minutes didn鈥檛 see a goal from either team, so it was on to a shoot out.
Each team went through six players in the shoot out. Matt Vernon has to be credited for his six excellent saves, which ended up winning the game for the Terriers.
On the Terriers鈥� sixth shot, McKenzie Welke would finally connect. The Terries won with a final score of 5-4.
Regarding Friday鈥檚 game, Terriers鈥� head coach and GM Casey O鈥橞rien kept his comments short and sweet.
鈥淚 think we played an overall very strong game,鈥� he said. 鈥淢att Vernon was unbelievable for us.鈥�
On Saturday, the two faced off again.
Again, the first period ended without a goal from either team.
In the second, while the Terriers were able to get their one and only goal of the game, the Bombers were able to rack up three. The Terriers鈥� goal was scored by Quinton Hobbs, his fourth of the season, with the assists from Carson Welke and Corwin Stevely.
In the third, the Bombers would add one goal onto the scoreboard. The game鈥檚 final score was 4-1.
Two of the four goals from the Bombers were scored by former Terrier Jordan McCausland, who was traded to Flin Flon in December.
After the game, O鈥橞rien gave credit to the Bombers鈥� goalie, who he said played an incredible game that day.
鈥淭hat was the difference maker,鈥� said O鈥橞rien.
鈥淥verall this weekend, I have to be very pleased with the performance and the effort. It鈥檚 a very emotional weekend with it being parents鈥� weekend as well, and the sportsman鈥檚 dinner. There are a lot of things that the guys have going through their minds. The effort was there this weekend,鈥� said O鈥橞rien.
He also said that both games over the weekend felt like a playoff atmosphere. With playoffs approaching in just a couple of months, that鈥檚 a good mind set to be in.
鈥淔lin Flon is a good team. Everyone鈥檚 got to remember that. They went to the league finals last year and have a lot of those players back. It was a good test for us this weekend,鈥� said O鈥橞rien.
The Terriers hit the road for their next two games, but will return to the Farrell Agencies Arena on Saturday, Jan. 28 when they will face off against the Humboldt Broncos at 7:30 p.m.
The Broncos sit in fifth place in the league standings, leading the Terriers in points 47-41. The Terriers and the Broncos have faced off four times so far this season, with Humboldt taking three wins and Yorkton taking one.
