In what can truly be called a dog fight for top spot in the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League's Sherwood Conference, the Conference leading Yorkton Terriers hosted the second place Notre Dame Hounds last Tuesday (Dec. 18).
Jeremy Johnson gave the home team a 1-0 lead with the only goal of the first period.
Little brother Dylan Johnson gave Yorkton a 2-0 lead in the second, before Cory Anderson replied for Notre Dame scoring with only 36-seconds left in the period.
Nathan Murray and Tayler Thomson popped third period tallies for the Terriers to round out a 4-1 win. Kale Thomson faced 37 shots in the Terrier nets allowing only the one goal to be the game's first star.
The Terriers had a 39-shot night against Hound netminder Ty Reichenbach.
Thomson said the Terriers were ready for the game.
"Everybody was pretty hyped to finally get to play these guys. We haven't seen them for a while," he said, adding Notre Dame has been on their heels in the standings for weeks so a win on home ice was great.
The game had an edge, with a fight, big hits and a couple of times Thomson being toppled in his net, his mask flying off in one instance. The netminder said it didn't get him off his game. In fact he said it was the opposite.
"It kind of got me into it more to be honest," he said, adding " I don't really get too bothered by that kind of thing."
As for his own one-goal-allowed performance Thomson quickly credited his teammates.
"The guys played well in front of me," he said, adding having some goals scored by the Terriers helped too. That always makes it easier for the goaltender."
But Thomson did make a few big saves, especially in the second period to maintain the Terriers momentum.
"That kind of calms the team down a bit in some situations," he said.
Terrier head coach Trent Cassan said Thomson played well.
"He was first star, and rightfully so," said the Terrier coach, adding Thomson was there when needed, pointed to a key stop on a two-on-one Hound chance. "You need your goaltender to bail you out a bit and he did that tonight."
Cassan said the game had a definite playoff feel.
"It had a lot of hits, a lot of blocked shots for both teams," he said.
Cassan said he expected no less from Notre Dame this season.
"I have a lot of respect for the Hound club, and how they play," he said.
With the Christmas break looming Cassan said the Terriers hit the ice ready for Tuesday's game.
"Right from the opening faceoff we were ready for the physical play," he offered.
Offensively the Terriers continue to get contributions from a number of players. Cassan said on off season goal was to get a bit deeper in terms of scoring, and this season he said players are "able to pick each other up," by popping goals.
That is a positive for the Terriers as it "doesn't put too much pressure on one, or two guys," added Cassan.
The Terriers also have an ability to move players around to fill spots, and Cassan said that is part of the plan for the team.
"It's good to have guys that can adapt, that can step into different roles," he said.
The Terriers did have a new face in the line-up as affiliated player Brayden Schmidt of the Regina AAA Midget Pat Canadians filled in at forward.
"I thought he played responsible," said Cassan. "He played within himself."
The win gives the Terriers a record of 24-8-0-1 for 49 points, four better than the Hounds at 45 points, and Yorkton holds a game in-hand on Notre Dame.
Melville sits third with 41 points, and also having played one more game than the Terriers.
Kindersley has 28 points for fourth spot, followed by Estevan with 26 and Weyburn with 20.
The Terriers, and the rest of the SJHL are now on Christmas break.
Yorkton gets back to action with Melville visiting the Farrell Agencies Arena Dec. 30.
The Terriers head to Melville New Year's Day for a 2:00 p.m. start time.
