All Yorkton needed to do was prevent Martensville from running up the score in Game Two of their Provincial final two game total goal series and they would successfully defend their 2011-12 and 2012-13 Bantam 'A' Provincial title.
They did that, and more, as the Terriers trounced the visiting Marauders 10-4 to win the two game series 21-8 after triumphing 11-4 in game one in Martensville.
Saturday's result left no doubt as to who the champions were, but while the outcome was favourable the game itself did not start off as such.
Two quick goals by Marauders captain Colten Adair led many to believe that it would be a Martensville night, however Yorkton captain MacKenzie Flett quickly responded with a goal of his own when his point blast found its way past Martensville netminder Seth Young to cut the Marauder lead in half.
Stephen Oleskiw made it a 2-2 game with 12:29 remaining in the opening frame when he too hammered a shot from the point past Young.
Brennin Stein gave Yorkton their first lead of the game just over a minute later when he snapped the puck past the Marauders goalie and into the back of the net.
However the Marauders did not go away, evening the game at three just two minutes later when Ben Pelechaty slid the puck past Nolan Budz.
A tie game, however, was as close as Martensville would get as Yorkton would add three more goals in the first, one each by Jordan Evans, Reid Arnold and Michael Dobrowolski, one in the second (Jordan Repsch) and three in the third (Caden Durocher, Oleskiw and Flett) while the Marauders could only respond with one.
After the on ice celebration, which lasted for over 15 minutes, bantam Terriers head coach Jeff Flett offered his view on how his team managed to overcome Martensville who were, on paper, an even opponent. "Yeah they're a tough team to play against and that's why they made it to the Provincial finals," offered Flett, continuing, "But we just had way more depth than them.
"Our big shots from the point, creativity down below and our speed were too much for them and in hockey speed kills."
Flett then went on to explain that, while other teams such as Martensville have played all season together in league and tournament play, his team is different, in that they were selected through a tryout camp before Provincial play began. "When we formed the team I had three separate evaluators come out," said Flett. "I had Trent Cassan from the Yorkton Terriers and some Zone Four people watch 40 kids and a lot of goaltenders skate and go through drills and graded them from 1-5 and what resulted was the team we have now. Apparently they made some good choices."
They certainly did make good choices, however five of those choices were almost guaranteed a spot on the team before the selection camp simply due to their past success at the Provincial level.
Those five players: MacKenzie Flett, Stephen Oleskiw, Jordan Evans, Bryce Pelechaty and Zack Goulden-Maddin, have all done something that no one else has done before; they've all won their fourth consecutive Provincial championship.
"It feels really good to just set some records here in Yorkton," said Goulden-Maddin said following his fourth Provincial title.
Goulden-Maddin then went on to explain that the first Championship in Peewee came as a surprise and that the next three were just icing on the cake. "I was surprised after we won the first one. I was like 'well at least we won the first one, who cares what happens now' and then we won three more."
Goulden-Maddin's teammate, MacKenzie Flett, echoed his comments, saying, "It feels pretty good. We won four in a row. I don't think anyone's ever done that before so it's great."
Flett, the captain of the most recent Provincial championship team, also spoke of his four teammates who have won back-to-back-to-back-to-back titles and of what they all bring to the team. "Well I think I've been d-partners with Jordan Evans for all four titles. I'm pretty sure he assists on every one of the goals I get out there. Stephen Oleskiw is one of the biggest hitters on the ice, Bryce is a good, solid defenceman and Zack is a five-hole goal scorer. All four of them are great hockey players."
However it was Goulden-Maddin who summed it up best when asked what it was like to win four Provincial titles in a row with his four long time teammates. "It feels awesome to do it beside not only my teammates but also my best friends."
