The lacrosse Bulldogs were getting physical.
They were getting goals from just about everybody in the lineup.
They were playing near perfect.
Then the game got suspended two-thirds of the way through due to what was deemed unsafe floor conditions at the Yorkton Kinsmen Arena.
They also got back into the win column with back-to-back victories.
Following losses in most of their previous Prairie Gold Lacrosse League (PGLL) outings, Yorkton has now strung together two straight wins at home; something not seen around here in ages.
They were playing well before the game got called.
Jayden Dozorec got kicked out of the game in the first period for a CFB call (checking from behind). Tyson Haas took on a bigger dance partner in the second period and apparently sent him off the floor with a pair of black eyes, and forward Justin Genaille had another night where he would not be denied some points.
He scored twice, including a breakaway deke early in the first period, and added a pair of assists; that goes with his six points from Saturday night's game with Estevan.
It was their first Sunday night game at home and they played it like it was going to be their last game.
Even coach Joe Choptuik said he was a little taken back that his team won 8-2.
"Oh yeah, they are a tough team," he said.
Yorkton had a 6-0 lead going into the second period, which turned out to be the last period.
The last time the Bulldogs met the Regina Riot, the game went the other way completely, he added.
About the heavy hitting, he said he didn't agree with the call to remove Dozorec from the game.
Dozorec was given 10-minutes plus a game because the Regina player was not in possession of the ball at the time of the hit.
The Regina player attempted a retaliation shot at Dozorec who was walking away; Regina teammates held him back.
Choptuik said that Haas' scrap was an example of what the pint-sized kid can do.
"He's an aggressor," notes Choptuik. "He's (obviously) got no fear."
Oh yeah, he makes things happen," suggested Choptuik after seeing Haas take on and take down a much bigger Zac Nichol at 8:52 of the second period.
Haas said after the game Nichol was bloodied and had two black eyes.
Offensively, Haas scored a hat trick and added an assist upon returning from the fighting major.
He opened the scoring early in the game. Genaille scored to make it 2-0. Dozorec's second goal in as many nights made it 3-0. Genaille tallied his second to make it 4-0 before Haas closed out the first period with his first of three goals in the game.
Team captain Jerrason Fisher opened the second period with his first of the game. Both teams started to get into penalty trouble, however nobody was able to capitalize.
Cody Jarvis was able to round out the game's goals at the 6:46 mark of the second period.
The teams went to their dressing rooms after two periods. As they returned to the floor, the PA system announced the ending of the game due to the "dangerous conditions".
Choptuik said the City of Yorkton won't do anything to help, including moving the team's home games to the Farrell Agencies Arena.
The Bulldogs played Estevan on Saturday and were scheduled to play Regina on Sunday.
In Saturday's 11-5 win, Jarvis led the way with four goals, including recording the natural hat trick in the opening period. He also had a pair of assists to bring his point total for the game to six.
Bulldogs team captain Fisher then scored two in a row and Dozorec tallied the Bulldogs' seventh goal of the game, all before the end of the first period of play.
Estevan was able to counter with two goals. Rhett Handley and Ryan Frehlick both scored.
In the second period, Yorkton got goals from Haas, Layne Hull, and Jackson Tetrault scored his first of two.
Handley tallied his second of the game for the visiting Big Dogs, however the Bulldogs held a 9-3 lead heading into the third frame.
"They (we) started out good," said coach Choptuik, before pointing out that the team still has a lot of work ahead of them before they start to make up any ground. There are only three regular season games remaining, including Sunday's game.
In Saturday's game, both teams were missing key players, he said.
In the final frame, Tetrault and Jarvis each scored for Yorkton while Handley had his fourth goal of the game for the visitors.
LAST GAME
The last game of the season comes June 23 when they host the Regina Rifles at the Kinsmen Arena. Game time is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Choptuik said that the team still has a lot of work ahead of them before they start to make up any ground. There are only three regular season games remaining, including Sunday's game.
In Saturday's game, both teams were missing key players, he said.
In the final frame, Tetrault and Jarvis each scored for Yorkton while Handley had his fourth goal of the game for the visitors.
