YORKTON - The Yorkton Terriers were into a string of postponed games over the weekend, as the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League team started a five-day COVID-related pause Wednesday, Jan 12.
The Terrier home games last Friday Jan. 14, Monday, Jan. 17 against Weyburn, and Tuesday, Jan. 18, when Notre Dame was scheduled to visit the Westland Insurance Arena were postponed to a later date.
The dates for the games to be played have not been announced.
In addition, the Terriers road game in Estevan Saturday (Jan. 15), was also postponed as the Bruins went into a five-day COVID-related pause which started Jan. 10.
A COVID-related pause is not unique to the Terriers in the SJHL as Melfort, Nipawin, Flin Flon (twice), Estevan, Notre Dame (extended five days), and La Ronge have all experienced five-day pauses.
Locally club president Corvyn Neufeld admitted “there are quite a few” SJHL games needing to be rescheduled due to the team ‘pauses”, adding “we have four assuming we are back this week.”
Yorkton is scheduled to host Melville Friday and Humboldt Saturday at the Westland Insurance Arena.
Neufeld said the Terriers are working under the assumption the SJHL will still get in all its games, but added “I’m not exactly sure what the league has planned,” then reiterating “we can make up three, or four games,” based on available time. “So far it’s doable.”
As for the Terrier situation, Neufeld said the latest bout of COVID “seems to be going through them (the team) fairy quickly.” He noted in his last conversation with Terrier head coach Mat Hehr “there was only three, or four guys who have not had it.”
That said Neufeld added players have experienced “fairly minor symptoms,” adding “that’s a positive.”
Players are isolating and taking tests regularly, said Neufeld.
“Hopefully it’s not going to hit us a second time. We’re hoping we’re going to be OK,” he said.
There is also hope from the Terrier president that once the team is back in action more fans will start showing up for games. The team is averaging just a few more than 400 fans a game, and that is not enough for the team to cover its expenses.
The fan numbers are a league wide concern with Neufeld calling low attendance “very typical across the league.”
With the low numbers the Terriers are likely headed back into the red after just emerging last summer thanks to $1 million in provincial COVID-19 relief dollars flowing to the SJHL and its teams.
Overall, government program dollars flowing to the Terriers because of the COVID-19 pandemic totalled just shy of $300,000. The money included $90,909, the Terriers share of a $1 million grant given by the provincial government to the SJHL, which was split between the league office and the teams in the league.
But, low attendance threatens another year in the red.
“That’s possible based on what we’re projecting right now,” said Neufeld. “The way things are headed right now we’ll be back in a deficit again.”
The only solution is more fans.
“We’d love to see more people in the building,” said Neufeld.
Neufeld said he isn’t sure exactly why fans are not turning out in better numbers.
“I don’t know what the reasons for people staying away,” he said, adding for some it may be COVID concerns. “Some may be afraid of COVID and stay home because of that.”
For others just a case of being away from Junior games so long they have decided not to return.
“I don’t think it’s the hockey ... We have a very competitive team,” added Neufeld.
The Terriers sit with a 16-15-1-4 record and 37 points, in second place in the SJHL Viterra Division. While well back of Estevan with 53, they are a point up on Melville while holding three games in-hand on the Millionaires.
