YORKTON, SK – Riley Cormier’s goal just past the midway point of the third period stood as the game-winner, as the Yorkton Terriers erased a two-goal deficit to defeat the Estevan Bruins 5-4 at Westland Insurance Arena.
In the first period of the final meeting of the season between the Bruins and Terriers, the home side struck first on the power play. With Bruins defenseman Caleb Whittingham in the box for delay of game, the Terriers needed just 16 seconds of power-play time to capitalize.
Captain Jaron Desnoyers snapped home his 28th of the year, beating Luke Norman short side to give Yorkton a 1-0 lead. David Coyle and Bryce Dahl picked up assists on the goal.
Shortly after, the Terriers doubled their lead when Vinay Junek batted his 13th of the season out of mid-air. Jye Zawatsky and Auld added assists on the play.
Yorkton outshot Estevan 9-7 in the opening frame.
In the second period, the visitors responded with a pair of goals just 15 seconds apart.
First, Luke Hogan hammered his 17th of the season past Creig, then Rorey Elson finished off a rush, beating Creig over the glove to tie the game.
The Bruins’ offense kept rolling, adding another goal on the power play as Whittingham fired a shot through a screen, beating Creig for their first lead of the night.
Just over three minutes later, they struck again—Elson was robbed in tight by Creig but managed to slide the rebound into the net, extending Estevan’s lead to 4-2.
The Terriers wrestled back some momentum late in the period when David Coyle beat Norman under the glove on the power play for his 30th of the season. Desnoyers and Dahl picked up the assists.
Yorkton held a slight 21-20 shot advantage after 40 minutes.
Early in the third period, the captain ignited the Terriers faithful with a breakaway goal. Desnoyers undressed Norman for his second of the night, tying the game at 4-4 with his 29th of the season.
The Terriers continued to apply pressure in the Bruins’ defensive zone, stacking multiple strong shifts together and building momentum.
Just past the midway point of the period, Yorkton took the lead. Cormier’s shot from the right point navigated through a maze of players and past a screened Norman, making it 5-4. The goal was the Vernon, BC product’s ninth of the season.
From there, Callum Creig shut the door, backstopping the Terriers to victory and snapping their five-game winless streak.
With the win, Yorkton moves three points ahead of the Melville Millionaires and sits just two points back of the Weyburn Red Wings for first place in the Viterra Division.
Only two games remain before the playoffs, as the Terriers and Millionaires will face off in a home-and-home series to close out the regular season.
