After back-to-back wins over Weyburn to start the season the Yorkton Terriers have struggled in the young Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League season.
The Terrier record of 2-2-0-1, and five points is second best in the Sherwood Conference, one point back of Melville. Estevan is third with two points, while Weyburn is pointless through five games.
The Terriers fell to Battlefords last Tuesday (Sept. 23) in a shoot-out at the Farrell Agencies Arena in the city.
Brenden Heinrich and Jordan Townsend gave the visiting Stars a 2-0 lead in the first period, the first goal coming only 12-seconds into the contest.
Kurt Johnas used the powerplay to cut the lead in half with the only goal of the second period.
Brandon Sookro scored his first regular season SJHL goal midway through the third period to knot the contest.
That would be it for regulation time scoring and the five-minute, four-on-four overtime frame would not settle things either.
The Stars would then prevail in a shoot-out for the win.
Friday night the Melfort Mustangs visited the Terriers and took two points back home with them.
After a scoreless opening frame the offences would catch fire in the second with Melfort taking a 3-2 lead to the dressing room after 40 minutes.
Daylan Gatzke and Josh Ellis scored for Yorkton, while Luc Lemire, Adam Fauchoux and Tristan Frei struck for the Mustangs.
Regan Wilton added a fourth Melfort goal to complete the scoring in their 4-2 win in the third.
Matt Kustra, in his first Junior start with the Terriers, faced 34-shots in the loss.
"It was exciting. Ever since I was assigned to the Terriers it was something I've been looking forward to," said Kustra, who added he wish the game had been a win.
Still for Kustra, who grew up in the city, his first Terrier start was a dream come true.
"I always watched them growing up and wanted to play for them," he said.
So did hitting the ice in front of family and friends cause the young netminder to have butterflies?
"I wasn't too nervous. I just really wanted to play," he said.
Terrier head coach Trent Cassan liked his netminder's game.
"We got a good effort from Matt starting his first Junior 'A' game," he said, adding it was too bad the team couldn't have got him a win.
As for the loss, Kustra said hockey is a team game.
"You've all got to play good together," noting wins and losses are not because of one player.
In the case of the loss the Terriers struggled at times, especially in terms of winning puck battles.
Kustra reminded though "we're just a young team," and there will be growing pains as the team jells.
The young netminder said as the defending champions teams will come into the Farrell Agencies Arena looking to prove something against the champs and the Terriers must be ready for that.
It is a factor Cassan is aware of too.
"Our guys are aware of that, and that's a good challenge for everyone," he said.
As for the loss Friday, Cassan was not happy to see his players being out worked most of the night.
"You can handle a loss when you work hard," he said. "But when you get out-competed most of the game, it certainly doesn't sit well."
The Terriers fared no better on the road Saturday visiting Nipawin.
Tyson Enzie and Sookro gave the Terriers a 2-0 lead in the first period before Garrett Dunlop chopped the lead in half with a powerplay marker at 17:55 of the frame.
The second would be scoreless, but it would take only 18-seconds into the third for Eric Bolden to tie the game for the Hawks.
Blake Fournier would score with the man advantage at 12:31 for Nipawin, a goal which would prove the game-winner.
Dawson MacAuley faced 54-shots in the loss for the Terriers.
Up next
The Terriers will head to Humboldt for action Saturday.
