The Yorkton Terriers are hosting their Annual Sportsmen鈥檚 Dinner Saturday, Feb. 13.
Terrier president Dave Baron said it鈥檚 a big weekend for the Terriers, and their Highway #10 rival Melville Millionaires. The two teams play in Melville Friday evening, then hit the Farrell Agencies Arena Saturday for a rare 2 p.m. start.
鈥淲e challenge Yorkton fans to follow us to Melville, and Melville fans to come here Saturday,鈥� he said.
In the case of Melville fans Baron said, 鈥淚鈥檒l personally welcome you to our building.鈥�
Baron said both teams are fighting for the final playoff spot in the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League, so it should be a great series.
鈥淢elville has a good young team headed in the right direction,鈥� he said.
The games will work as a natural warm-up for the Sportsmen鈥檚 Dinner Saturday, with former Terrier Trevor Secundiak acting as event M.C..
This year鈥檚 guest speaker is former NHLer and former Yorkton Terrier head coach and general manager Dennis Polonich.
鈥淧olonich, from Foam Lake, SK where he was drafted by the Detroit Red Wings in the 8th round of the 1973 NHL Amateur Draft,鈥� detailed the Terrier website. 鈥淗e made his NHL debut in the 1974-75 season with the Detroit Red Wings. The forward would go on to play in the Detroit organization for 11 seasons from 1974 to 1985. He played in 390 regular season games with the Red Wings where he collected 141 points and 1242 penalty minutes. During his time in the Red Wings farm system he played for their American Hockey League team the Adirondack Red Wings in 390 games he scored 258 points. In the 1980-1981 season, Dennis won a Calder Cup championship with the Adirondack Red Wings. He finished his playing career by playing for the Muskegon Lumberjacks in the International Hockey League for the 1985-1986 and 1986-1987 season. He played for two seasons of junior hockey for the Flin Flon Bombers in the Western Canada Hockey League, before beginning his pro career.
鈥淢idway through the 1986-1987 season the Yorkton Terriers brought Dennis in to take over as the head coach and general manager of the hockey club. He would lead the club to their second SJHL title in the 1990-1991 season. He would go on to coach the Terriers for six seasons before moving up to the Western Hockey League. After leaving the Terriers in 1992 he joined the Medicine Hat Tigers as their general manager for four seasons and the Prince George Cougars for two seasons from 1996-1998.鈥�
The night is a fundraiser for the team, and Baron said they have a number of items which will be available through silent and live auctions, and ticket draws including items from past and present NHLers such as Gerry Cheevers, Zdeno Chara and Ryan Getzlaf.
The dinner will take place at the Gallagher Centre Flexihall. Cocktails will begin at 5:00pm, the horse races begin a 6:15pm followed by dinner at 6:30pm and the program to following dinner.
Tickets are $60 individually or $450 for a table of 8. Tickets can be purchased through Terrier office manager Sheri Woolridge at 306 783 4077 or by email at [email protected].
