The Yorkton Terriers picked up two big wins on the week and hold on to the final playoff spot in the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League.
The key win was Saturday on home ice over Humboldt who are also in the hunt for the final playoff spot.
Cole Keenleyside got the Terriers off to a good start with a goal 4:39 into the first period, but Michael Korol would get that back for the Broncos at 17:59 to send the teams to the dressing rooms deadlocked 1-1 through one period of play.
Trevor Posch would give the visitors a 2-1 lead 36-seconds into the second.
McKenzie Welke would pop a powerplay marker 3:50 into the frame to knot the score 2-2.
LJ Naccarato, with his first in 19-games with the Terriers restored a one-goal lead for the home side at 9:21.
Rock Ruschkowski would tie the score for the Broncos at 13:20, then Posch with his second of the game would give Humboldt a 4-3 lead at 18:12.
The lead would not last long as Jordan Ross scored at 19:33 to tie the game 4-4 after two periods.
In the third it would be all Terriers though.
Brandon Sookro scored what would be the game-winner at 2:10, with Keenleyside getting his second of the night at 15:23. Devin Gerwing struck at 16:05.
And then Welke rounded out an 8-4 win with his second of the contest at 17:08.
Matt Kustra faced 27-shots in the Yorkton nets for the win, while Ryan LaRochelle took the loss being bombarded for 45.
Terrier head coach Trent Cassan said the pair of wins builds on what has been an improving team of late. Even the hiccup loss 9-3 to Kindersley was not a complete disaster.
鈥淲e played a good first period (against the Klippers),鈥� he said, adding a team is 鈥渘ot defined鈥� by a single win, or loss.
Cassan noted since the Christmas break the Terriers have played 13-of-16 where one goal has been the difference.
And this week, coming off the Klipper loss 鈥渨e responded, we didn鈥檛 let one game define our season,鈥� said Cassan.
Against Humboldt Cassan said he liked that the team controlled the final period.
鈥淭he third period of this game we found another gear,鈥� he said, adding it was good to have the team score enough to get some separation on the scoreboard and not be in another one-goal situation.
While the win also created some added separation in the playoff race, up five points on Humboldt聽 and six on Melville, Cassan said the Terriers can鈥檛 look at the standings too much.
鈥淲e don鈥檛 want to get comfortable,鈥� he said, adding 鈥溾�� as a coaching staff we have to make sure that doesn鈥檛 get into our games at all.鈥�
Friday the Terriers were in Fort Qu鈥橝ppelle to face the Notre Dame Hounds in a neutral site game which was a seesaw from the outset.
Chance Longjohn struck only 48-seconds into the game to give the host Hounds a 1-0 lead, but Corwin Stevely would respond at 6:55 for Yorkton. The 1-1 tie would hold through the remainder of the first period.
Cole Keenleyside would give the Terriers their first lead of the game 13:51 into the second period, but it would be a short-lived edge as Ian Williams tied the game at 14:57.
Gage Ramsay then gave the home team a 3-2 lead at 17:46.
Mason Mullaney, a call-up from North Battleford in the Saskatchewan AAA Midget League scored his first Junior goal in his first Junior game 7:13 into the third to tie the game 3-3.
The deadlock would hold through the remainder of regulation time forcing the teams to a five-minute, four-on-four extra frame. The overtime would be short-lived as Regan Seiferling scored for the Terrier win only 12-seconds in.
Matt Kustra was in net for the Terriers facing 31-shots in the win, while Darin Fox took the loss for the Hounds facing 38.
鈥淲e didn鈥檛 start well,鈥� said Cassan, but going into the third, down a goal the Terriers found a way to come back. 鈥淲e needed to win the third period.鈥�
Cassan said getting a big goal from affiliated player call-up Mullaney was important for a team which has had several regulars out for extended periods of time. Having young players contribute when they have the chance is important when the roster is thin.
To-date the Terriers have utilized nine APs this season.
The pair of wins leaves the Terriers with a record of 16-25-1-3 for 36 points, and third spot in the Viterra Division, six up on rival Melville.
Weyburn tops the Division with 65 points, with Estevan comfortably second with 53.
Up next
The Terriers were scheduled to host Estevan last night (Tuesday), at the Farrell Agencies Arena, but results were not available at press time.
Friday Yorkton heads to Nipawin to face the Hawks, then return home to host Battlefords Saturday.
Tuesday, Feb. 9, Yorkton will again be in home action with Flin Flon scheduled to visit the city.
鈥淣o question it鈥檚 a very challenging week for us. They鈥檙e all teams at the top of the league,鈥� said Cassan. He said every game the rest of the regular season is one that has to be looked at as preparation for a playoff appearance, adding as such the Terriers have to 鈥減lay with urgency.鈥�
