The Yorkton Terriers put together a three game winning streak on the week, and so remain mathematically still in the hunt for a playoff spot.
With four games left on the Terrier schedule Yorkton would need to win out, while Estevan would need to lose all five of their remaining games.
As it stands, as of Tuesday morning this week, Yorkton resides in the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League鈥檚 Viterra Division basement with a record of 17-29-3-3 and 40-points, seven back of Estevan with 47. The Bruins sit one back of Weyburn with 48. Melville sits atop the Viterra with 52-points.
Friday Melville was in Yorkton and while the teams are on opposite ends of the Viterra standings, the age old rivalry meant a good crowd on hand.
Josh Ellis found himself alone in the slot and scored the first goal of the night to give the Terriers a 1-0 lead 1:03 into the game.
It was a short-lived lead as Reed Murray replied for the Mils at 2:31.
Logan Karakochuk then popped a quick pair at 9:30 and 11:52 on the first to give Melville a 3-1 lead going into the second period.
A powerplay goal by Paul Savage at 2:18 and an even strength marker by Carson Cayer at 9:12 tied the game for the Terriers. Tyler Baier would draw an assist on the Savage goal for his first Junior point in his first Junior game as an affiliated player call-up from the North Battlefords AAA Midgets.
Kailum Gervais would then strike at 12:42 of the second to give Yorkton a 4-2 lead headed to the final frame.
The Mils however were not done, as Mark Zvonkovic hit 3:09 into the third to again knot the score, this time 4-4.
Adam Santoro finally netted what would be the eventual game-winner at 7:10 of the third.
Ellis would add an empty netter for his second of the night late in the period.
Matt Kustra would earn the win in the Terrier net facing 42-shots while Trevor Martin was tagged with the loss facing 30.
Terrier head coach Trent Cassan said his team didn鈥檛 have the opening period they wanted.
鈥淥bviously the way the first period went was not in our favour,鈥� he said, but added being down 3-1 after 20-minutes didn鈥檛 shake his team. 鈥溾�� The guys didn鈥檛 panic.鈥�
And the Terriers showed good energy the rest of the way, he said, adding the team is showing greater consistency of late.
The reason for the better play starts on offence, said Cassan.
鈥淲e鈥檙e being a lot more creative off the break out. We鈥檙e not being quite as predictable,鈥� he said.
Cassan said it appears the team is finally taking months of teaching to heart.
鈥淭hey鈥檙e picking up on things,鈥� he said. While it may be too late for this season, it is a positive sign in terms of players eligible to return in the fall.
Santoro said the Terriers have played better of late.
鈥淚 think we鈥檝e finally found an identity for our team,鈥� he said, adding the Terriers are finally on the same page as a team. 鈥溾�� The guys are pulling together.鈥�
As for his own season, it has been one of adapting to the SJHL for聽 the rookie Santoro, who has not had the goals he might have anticipated coming out of a AAA Midget.
鈥淚t鈥檚 given me more of an understanding of what Junior hockey is, of what it takes to be here,鈥� he offered.
For Baier he was just happy to get into his first Junior game.
鈥淚t was fast and intense, especially with the Melville rivalry. It was a big game,鈥� he said after being named the game鈥檚 third star.
Baier said he wanted to keep his game simple in his first Terrier appearance.
鈥淚 just tried to play my best,鈥� he said, adding he didn鈥檛 want to do too much out there, other than be steady on the blue line.
In AAA Midget Baier is on the top 鈥楧鈥� pairing in North Battlefords, and contributes offensively from the backend.
Baier said he welcomed the weekend opportunity with Yorkton, noting, 鈥淭his is where I hope to be next season.鈥� He added getting a point and a star help him feel he is ready. 鈥淕etting the first point is always a confidence builder for sure.鈥�
Cassan said it was good to get a look at Baier in game situations, adding being a prospect on a team on the other side of the province means they do not get to see him as often.
鈥淚t was a good debut for him,鈥� said the Terrier coach. 鈥溾�� I liked what I saw. He played with a bit of an edge.鈥�
And a week after his Western Hockey League debut a week ago, Jake Kustra made his SJ debut as a Terrier Friday.
Cassan said as a second round Bantam pick of Saskatoon, Kustra is likely to get a shot there in the fall, but it was good to get him in a game as a Terrier too.
鈥淚t was why we brought him in to see what he can do,鈥� said Cassan.
Saturday it was Yorkton visiting Melville in the back half of a home-and-home set. It would be a decidedly different game as the defences took centre stage.
Gervais scored for the Terriers 17:27 into the first period. It would be the only Yorkton goal of the contest, but it would be enough for the win as Carson Bogdan in the Terrier nets would turn away all 42-shots for his first SJHL shut-out.
Josh Bykowski was in the Millionaires nets for the loss facing 19 Terrier shots.
Big win Tuesday
Last Tuesday the Estevan Bruins rolled into Yorkton and faced a barrage of Terrier offence.
Jared Legien scored his first Junior goal, and only marker of the first period on a Terrier powerplay 12:53 into the game.
The teams would trade two-goal efforts in the second.
RT Rice and Riley Woods would both scoring powerplay goals for the Bruins, while Joe Wilkinson scored his first Terrier goal at even strength, and Savage his first Terrier goal on the powerplay.
Riley Hunt would strike at 4:19 and 4:59 in the third to give Yorkton a 5-2 lead.
But Woods would be back on the powerplay to score again for the Bruins at 6:44 to draw Estevan within two.
Alex Cheveldave reestablished a three-goal margin with a Terrier powerplay marker 13:41 into the third, and then Cayer made it 7-3 at 15:56.
Lindsay MacLellan would add one more late for the Bruins in the 7-4 Terrier win.
Dawson MacAuley faced 36-shots in the Terrier net for the win, while Tyler Fuhr faced 43 in the loss for the Bruins.
Up next
The SJHL season is winding down with only two weeks left on the schedule.
This week the Terriers head to Estevan to play the Bruins Friday, and then return home to the Farrell Agencies Arena to host Flin Flon Saturday.
