The Yorkton Terriers showed some hometown pride Saturday with a big win over Estevan.
The Bruins had buried the Terriers a night earlier in Estevan outscoring the visitors 9-0.
TJ Irey would score what would be the eventual game-winner 7:52 into the first for the Bruins, who would add goals by Tanner Manz, Jake Tesarowski and Kaelan Holt to lead 4-0 after 20-minutes.
Jake Fletcher extended the lead to 5-0 with the only goal of the second.
In the third Michael McChesney would add two, Irey would get his second of the night, and Mark Edmands would chip in one to round out the 9-0 score.
Joe Marcouiller would allow all nine in the Terrier nets facing 64-shots.
Bo Didur earned the Estevan shut-out turning away all 24-shots he faced.
Things didn鈥檛 start out very well Saturday giving up first period goals to Zach Goberis and Kaelan Holt to trail the visiting Bruins 2-0 after the opening frame.
But a powerplay goal 44-seconds into the second by Drew Coughlin gave the Terriers life.
Arthur Miller would restore a two-goal lead for Estevan at 7:41.
Then Austen Flaman at 11:48 on the powerplay, and an even-strength marker at 16:50 by Slater Strong tied the contest 3-3 headed to the third period.
It would be the Terrier powerplay that proved the difference as Cole Keenleyside scored an unassisted extra man goal for the game winner at 11:23.
Ben Laidlaw would face 40-shots in the Yorkton net for his first win as a Terrier.
Didur took the loss facing 36.
Following Saturday鈥檚 win Keenleyside was obviously big coming off the lacklustre performance Friday.
鈥淵ou鈥檝e got to come back with some emotion. You鈥檝e got to come back with some anger in you,鈥� he said.
The difference was work ethic Saturday.
鈥淥bviously, we鈥檙e not the most skilled team so we鈥檝e got to out work them,鈥� said Keenleyside.
Terrier head coach Mat Hehr said the Terriers were 鈥渟luggish through the first half of period one, but from that point settled in to put together a solid effort which resulted in a win.
鈥淎t the end of the day that effort was rewarded,鈥� adding it was an important win coming on the heels of a loss he said was a learning experience for the young Terriers.
It helped that the team didn鈥檛 have to sit and dwell on the 9-0 loss, getting back into action less than 24-hours later. It gave the team to see exactly what can happen when the effort is there, said Hehr.
Hehr too noted the team played a grittier style Saturday, adding that is essential for them to find success.
鈥淲e can鈥檛 play like a skilled hockey team,鈥� he offered, adding they tried that in Estevan and the game quickly got away from them.
Instead the Terriers need to be aggressive on the check, yet it needs to be a controlled aggression, said Hehr. Checks and bumps wear on opponents, but the Terriers can鈥檛 afford to take penalties either.
鈥淲e want to play on the line, but not crossing the line and ending up killing off penalties,鈥� he said.
As for his winning goal Keenleyside said he was able to tap the puck forward and that sent him in alone on the Bruin netminder, and he went low glove side, adding he knew that was where he wanted to shoot.
鈥淯sually that鈥檚 a good spot,鈥� he offered,
The win raises the Terriers鈥� record to 6-22-2 for 14 points, and a tie with LaRonge for the worst record in the SJHL.
The loss Saturday by Estevan allowed Weyburn to leap frog the Bruins into top spot in the Viterra Division. The Wings have 40 points, one better than the Bruins at 39. Melville is a distant third with 22 points, up eight points on Yorkton.
Up next
The Terriers were scheduled to host Melfort last night (Tuesday) at the Farrell Agencies Arena, but results were not available at press time.
Friday Yorkton heads to Notre Dame to take on the Hounds, who pay a return visit to Yorkton this Saturday. The back-to-back games with the Hounds are the last action for the Terriers before the SJHL holiday break.
