The Yorkton Lions AA Midget Terriers are on their way to the league final in the AA Midget Division of the 麻豆传媒AV Saskatchewan Minor Hockey League.
The Terriers wrapped up their best-of-five semi-final series with Notre Dame with a 2-1 win in game four of the series Sunday in Wilcox.
Yorkton took the lead through the opening 20-minutes on a goal by Colby Vrani on the powerplay.
The Argos knotted the score with the lone goal of the second period, a powerplay goal by Kevin Gould.
The powerplay would remain key as it generated the lone goal of the third period, and the game-winner for Yorkton coming off the stick of Massen Ziola.
Spencer Welke was the winning netminder for Yorkton, with Jason Henley tagged with the loss for the Argos.
鈥淲e ground it out. We closed out the series,鈥� said Yorkton head coach Brad Haberman. 鈥溾�� It was a tough game all the way through.鈥�
The hurdles in the game included losing Ethan Evanovich in the second period.
鈥淗e blew his knee out 鈥� It popped right out, the kneecap,鈥� he said.
The injury was serious enough that an ambulance needed to be called. Initially it was to come from Milestone, but was on a call, necessitating that one come from Pangman.
鈥淲e ended up getting him off the ice,鈥� said Haberman, who added there was another 20-minute wait with Evanovich sitting on chairs, his leg in a splint.
鈥淚t wasn鈥檛 pretty,鈥� he said.
Haberman said the delay in a game that was so close was something he talked to his players about to keep them focused.
Another hurdle was a penalty that had them short-handed to start the third period.
鈥淲e worked really hard and killed that penalty off,鈥� said Haberman, adding he had told his players they would win the game if they got through being short-handed to start the third.
鈥淭he boys dug deep,鈥� he said, adding they seemed motived not just to win it for themselves, but for the injured Evanovich.
The win sends the Terriers to the league final where they will meet Regina.
Haberman said Regina has been on a roll in the playoffs having swept both their series, and allowing only eight goals in the six games played.
鈥淏ut we still have home ice,鈥� noted the Terrier coach. 鈥淚 think that is going to be a big benefit to us.鈥�
The dates for the series will see Yorkton host Regina at the Farrell Agencies Arena Thursday at 8 p.m. for game one, head to Regina for game two Sunday, then host game three Thursday, March 22 at 8, again at the FAA.
Games four and five, if needed are yet to be scheduled.
Home ice in Game 3
The teams were back at it last Thursday, with Game 3 at the Farrell Agencies Arena.
Michael Coleridge gave Yorkton an early lead with a goal 57-seconds into the game. The goal would prove to be the only goal of the opening 20-minutes.
It took only 2:09 into the second stanza for Jaxon Krupa to tie the game 1-1.
But the Terriers would hold a 3-1 lead after 40-minutes based on goals by Josh Peppler and Massen Ziola.
Brett Ambrozic got the Argos back in the game with an unassisted powerplay marker 4:23 into the third.
But that would be it from the Notre Dame offence, while Peyton Shewchuk added a fourth goal for the Terriers to round out a 4-21 win.
Noah Cline would be tagged with the loss in the Argo net, while Spencer Welke secured the win for Yorkton.
Game two
The Terriers headed to Wilcox Wednesday for game two of the series, a game originally scheduled for last Monday but postponed due to weather.
Yorkton was short-handed after two one-game suspensions were handed out after game one, and it showed.
The Argos took an early lead on a powerplay goal by Max Messier 3:13 into the contest.
The lead would hold for the home side until the 19:46 mark when Massen Ziola for pot a goal for Yorkton to knot the score 1-1.
In the second Ethan Mattern, and Kevin Gould with an unassisted effort, would give Notre Dame a 3-1 edge.
Messier would be back in the third with his second powerplay effort of the night, and Jaxon Krupa would add a fifth Argo goal to round out a 5-1 victory.
Spencer Welke took the loss in the Yorkton net, while Jason Henley had the win for the Argos.
