The Yorkton Terriers鈥� start to the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League season was not what fans would have hoped for.
The Terriers started in Weyburn Friday, dropping a 6-4 decision to the host Red Wings.
Jacob Jeske started the action scoring for Weyburn 6:39 into the game, a goal equalled by Brandon Sookro at less than a minute later at 7:34.
Jacob Fricks would score a man-advantage goal at 19:27 to send the home team to the dressing room with the lead after 20-minutes.
Connor Burke and Carson Rose would add Wing goals in the second period for a 4-1 lead.
Jordan Evans would get the Terriers back in the game with a goal 1:22 into the third, and Addison Bazian would make it 4-3 with a powerplay goal at 10:25.
Donovan Lumb would respond with a goal at 12:53 for Weyburn, only to have Sookro match that with a powerplay effort at 14:52 to make it 5-4.
Weyburn would get the insurance marker from Elvis Jansons at 15:08 for the 6-4 win.
Cameron Pateman was in the Terrier nets for the loss, allowing the six goals on 37-shots.
鈥淭he third period was probably our best. We were back on our heels a bit in the first and second,鈥� said Terrier Head Coach Trent Cassan.
鈥淲e fought back to be a shot away.鈥�
Unfortunately whenever the Terriers got close they gave up untimely goals, said Cassan.
鈥淲e gave up goals at the end of periods, or right after we鈥檇 scored,鈥� he said.
The same teams hooked-up at the Farrell Agencies Arena Saturday.
Braden Mellon gave the Red Wings a first period lead with a powerpay effort 14:59 into the game.
Carson Welke would match that with a Terrier powerplay goal at 19:20.
Jansons would score the only goal of the second period to give Weyburn a 2-1 lead headed to the third frame.
Kevin Wolf tied the game with a goal 3:40 into the third, with McKenzie Welke making it 3-2 Terriers scoring at 12:23.
But the rest of the game was the Wings.
Mike Eskra tied the contest for Weyburn at 16:00.
Drake Glover scored at 19:03 to take the lead, and Braden Mellon added an empty net goal for the 5-3 Wings win.
Pateman was again in the Yorkton goal facing 39-shots, and allowing four goals.
Cassan said the Terriers came out a bit flat, but got stronger as the game progressed.
鈥淚 think in the first there was a whole bunch of nerves. They really didn鈥檛 get their legs under them until the second period,鈥� he said.
Cassan said this season鈥檚 Terriers need to skate to be successful.
鈥淲e have to be a quick team and close in on guys,鈥� he said, adding if they can create pressure with quickness they can force other teams into mistakes.
Ultimately, it was still a home ice loss.
鈥淎nytime you鈥檙e that close to getting points in your home opener there鈥檚 going to be a sour taste in your mouth for a little while,鈥� said Cassan.
McKenzie Welke said it felt good to get his first goal.
鈥淪ometimes the puck goes your way,鈥� he said with a smile, adding this being his first goal would have been sweeter had the team won.
As for starting in the SJHL at 16, Welke said, 鈥淚t鈥檚 a lot of fun,鈥� then added 鈥渋t鈥檚 a little bit of a change coming out of Midget.鈥�
Welke said he recognizes not a lot of 16-year-olds play regularly on a Junior team, but said he and his brother went into the Terrier camp wanting to play at the highest level they could achieve.
鈥淚 really wasn鈥檛 sure what to expect,鈥� he said, adding he just wants to earn his ice time by doing whatever the coaches ask of him.
Having his brother on the team, and his line has benefitted Welke.
鈥淚鈥檝e always played with him all the way up,鈥� he said.
So what does Welke try to bring to the ice?
鈥淚 take care of the defensive some and chip in on offence when I can,鈥� he said.
Cassan said both Welkes are 鈥渢enacious players,鈥� who 鈥渨ork well together.鈥� While noting they are only 16, he added 鈥渢hey earned their way onto the team.鈥�
Up next
Yorkton visits the Battlefords North Stars Friday, and then swing down to face Kindersley Saturday.
