It鈥檚 been a busy week for the Yorkton Terriers.听
It all started last Thursday when they hosted their annual summer golf tournament fundraiser at Deer Park Golf Course. The days following the golf tournament were packed with fall camp, and then two preseason exhibition games against the Melville Millionaires.听
The Terriers had four full teams for their training camp, which is about 80 players. The players were put through practices, fitness testing and scrimmages so the coaching staff could see exactly what they had to offer.听
Terriers head coach/GM Casey O鈥橞rien said the entire coaching staff was very pleased with what they saw at camp.
鈥淲e were really happy with camp, it went very well and there are a lot of tough decisions,鈥� he explained. 鈥淲e鈥檝e carried 33 guys over to the exhibition games.鈥�
O鈥橞rien said they鈥檒l keep an eye on all the players during this week of exhibition games before they pick their team next week.
Terriers team captain Dexter Robinson said the turnout at camp was impressive.
鈥淲e had a lot of bodies this year, which was good to see. A lot of really good young guys came in and they made a really good impression,鈥� said Robinson. 鈥淚 feel bad for Casey because he鈥檚 got some really tough choices here, but it鈥檚 going to be good.鈥�
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Preseason games
On Sunday, the Terriers faced off against the Melville Millionaires at the Farrell Agencies Arena for the all rookie preseason game, consisting of both teams鈥� young guns. The Terriers took the win 1-0 with Yorkton product Jackson Berezowski scoring the lone goal.
On Monday, a more veteran lineup from both Yorkton and Melville played at the Horizon Credit Union Centre in Melville. It was a close game, but the Millionaires came away with a 3-2 win after a period of overtime.听
The Terriers added a few returning players in that game, but still had about 12 veterans sitting out 鈥� as did the Millionaires.
O鈥橞rien said the team looked up and down during Monday鈥檚 match up.
鈥淚t looked like we had just come off a busy weekend. We were slow to start, but I thought in the third period there was a great push back,鈥� said the head coach.
The Terriers were once facing a 2-0 deficit, but Will Brochu scored goals late in the second and third period for the comeback.
鈥淏ut with 12 or 13 veterans sitting out today, I was very pleased with the effort,鈥� added O鈥橞rien.
For many players, it was their first time getting a taste of the Highway 10 rivalry between Yorkton and Melville.听
鈥淲ith the Melville-Yorkton series, I put a little more pressure on the guys,鈥� said O鈥橞rien. 鈥淭here may have been 300 people here to watch [Monday鈥檚] game, but when it鈥檚 New Years Day or playoffs, these rinks are packed.鈥�
Robinson said he and the other veterans are looking forward to getting in on the Yorkton-Melville action this season.听
鈥淪ome of these new guys haven鈥檛 played in the Melville series before, but all of us veterans have done it a few times and it鈥檚 exciting. It鈥檚 going to be competitive,鈥� he said. 听
Although the roster has yet to be set, and there will still be a lot of shuffling done to the team, O鈥橞rien said he鈥檚 optimistic about what this year鈥檚 squad will look like.
鈥淲e have a good skating team. Some of the things we need to work on is using our speed a little bit more. We鈥檝e got guys who can handle the puck, but now we have to translate it into working as a five man unit out there. But we鈥檝e got a lot of good skill,鈥� he听 said.听
鈥淚鈥檓 excited to get back to work with these guys after spending four days up in the stands watching,鈥� he said, referring to his time off the ice to observe and evaluate during camp and preseason games.
The Terriers continue their preseason action this weekend with three games in three days. On Friday, they鈥檒l travel to Manitoba to take on the Dauphin Kings of the Manitoba Junior Hockey League. On Saturday night, they鈥檒l face off at the Farrell Agencies Arena against the Dauphin Kings at 7:30 p.m. And on Sunday, they鈥檒l head to Saskatoon to face off against the Battlefords North Stars.听
