The Yorkton Kinsmen AA Midget season has come to an end.
The Terriers had topped the 麻豆传媒AV Saskatchewan Minor Hockey League鈥檚 AA Midget Division, and manoeuvred through the playoffs to the league final against the Regina Rangers.
The Rangers were in Yorkton Thursday leaving the Farrell Agencies Arena with a 3-2 win.
Tyler Shankowsky gave Yorkton a 1-0 lead with the only goal of the first period, a powerplay marker.
It was 16:59 into the second before the Rangers tied the score on a powerplay goal by Walker Jerome.
It would take only 47-seconds before Vaughn Wilgosh restored a one-goal lead for the home ice Terriers.
But 20-seconds into the third Adam Kydd scored a man-advantage goal to again knot the score, this time at 2-2.
The powerplay would prove the difference as Jerome scored his second extra-man goal of the game to round out the 3-2 Regina win.
Reece Hodson earned the win in the Ranger net, with Spencer Welke being tagged with the loss for Yorkton.
鈥淎 bounce here, a bounce there, it might have been different,鈥� said Terrier assistant coach Josh Rohatynsky.
Rohatynsky said clearly Regina with the man advantage was the difference.
鈥淭heir powerplay was very good throughout the season. We knew the powerplay was really strong going into the playoffs,鈥� he said, adding they wanted to stay out of the penalty box but at times the game simply got away and penalties were taken.
In game three Rohatynsky said it was also a case of 鈥渟ome iffy calls鈥� that he suggested 鈥渞eally cost us a game.鈥�
The loss meant Yorkton faced elimination in the best-of-five final when they headed to Regina Saturday for game four.
Regina struck first with Blake Duquette scoring midway through the first period, on the powerplay.
Dreyden Haberman tied the score later in the first, with a powerplay goal for Yorkton.
The second would see Regina鈥檚 special teams take control with Duquette scoring a short-handed goal, and then a powerplay goal by Noah Kuntz.
The Regina powerplay would work again in the third with Parker Jasper scoring, before Duquette completed his hat trick with an unassisted effort to complete a 5-1 win, and a three-games-to-one series victory.
Welke took the loss in goal for Yorkton, while Cole Johnston earned the win.
鈥淲e ran out of gas by the end with our depleted line up,鈥� said Rohatynsky.
Rohatynsky said injuries and suspensions shortened the Terrier bench, and while affiliated player call ups played well, they were not regulars. He said had the Terriers been healthy he believes the outcome could have been different.
As it is, while disappointed in the loss, Rohatynsky said it was a great season. He reminded the team got off to a 3-3-1 start and it was unclear how well the team might do.
鈥淭o end up first in the league and get to the final, it was unbelievable,鈥� he said.
