The Yorkton Terriers continue to prepare for the upcoming Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League season.
The preparation included a trio of preseason games in the last week.
Last Wednesday a rookie-laden Terrier team met a veteran Melville roster in Ochapowace, with Melville coming away with a 5-0 win.
Bailey Stephens and Ryan Bontorin split time in the Terrier net.
Thursday the Manitoba Junior Hockey League's Swan Valley Stampeders visited the Farrell Agencies Arena, in a game which would take a shoot-out to give the visitors a 4-3 win.
Veteran Dylan Johnson and newcomers Brandon Sookro and Devin Gerwing scored for Yorkton in the contest.
Riley Medves and Carson Bogdan split time in net for the Terriers.
Waywayseecappo from the MJHL were the Terrier opponents Saturday in the city, with the home team managing a 3-2 win.
Newcomer Drayson Skulmoski started the Terrier scoring and then veteran Cortlan Procter added a pair in the win.
Carson Bogdan and Bailey Stephens split time in Yorkton's net.
Terrier head coach Trent Cassan said preseason games, while needed, are not always the best tool for evaluating performance, especially early in the process.
"No line ups have been the same," he noted, adding they want to see everybody get some ice time, but it means playing without set lines becoming familiar with each other.
The week ahead will help the Terrier coaching staff draw closer to some decisions, with three days of practice and two more games.
Cassan said the two games should be "closer to what it will look like for a line-up."
As an example returning netminder Medves is likely to get a game to himself, and perhaps half of the other, leading up to the regular season opener.
Cassan said Medves showed a lot last year as back-up to Kale Thomson, showing a "good work ethic and attitude" while getting limited ice time. The Terrier coach said that says a lot about the player.
"And whenever he got into a game last year he was ready to go," he added, recalling that included emergency service at the Western Canada Cup when Thomson was ill, and in relief at the Royal Bank Cup.
As recently as Saturday's game there were still several Midget-aged players getting ice time, players Cassan said are likely destined for their Midget teams. That said he added it was important to get them into games as Terriers so they feel part of the organization as several are likely to make the team in the years ahead.
"We want to give them a good experience playing in a game or two," he said.
Some Midget-aged players may even stick as Terriers, such as defenceman Regan Seiferling who has played regularly through the preseason.
"He's shown very well," said Cassan. "He's shown good poise and is good with the puck."
As for the players who will remain, preseason will not answer all questions.
"There are some decisions to be made even when you get into the regular season," offered Cassan.
The Yorkton Terriers have two more preseason games this week, both on the road.
