MELVILLE, SK- The Yorkton Terriers have pushed the Melville Millionaires to the brink after a gritty 2-1 road victory, backed by a stellar 31-save performance from rookie goaltender Callum Creig.
The opening twenty minutes were scoreless despite a pair of Melville power plays. The Yorkton Terriers’ penalty kill came up big, and as they say, your goaltender has to be your best penalty killer—Callum Creig proved just that, making two key stops to keep the game even.
In the second period, the Terriers got a rare power play opportunity—and they made it count. Carter Briltz opened the scoring with his first goal of the playoffs, sneaking a backhand shot through Ben Laurette’s legs while facing away from the net. Briltz had an outstanding night, playing a crucial role in killing all five penalties and dominating in the faceoff circle.
Yorkton added some insurance in the third period when Thomas Ries fired a shot off the pad, allowing Coyle to pounce on the rebound and roof it for a two-goal lead. It was Coyle’s playoff-leading fourth goal.
The Millionaires managed to spoil Creig’s shutout bid late in the game with their goaltender pulled, as Jadon Iyogun found the net with a blocker-side shot.
In the final minutes, Evan Auld put in an incredible effort to control the puck in the offensive zone, helping Yorkton run down the clock and secure a massive Game 4 victory on the road. The Terriers now hold a tight grip on the series.
Special teams played a crucial role, as the Millionaires went 0-for-5 on the power play, while the Terriers capitalized on one of their two chances, finishing 1-for-2.
Game 5 will take place in Yorkton on Friday night, where the Terriers will have a chance to punch their ticket to the SJHL semifinals. Be sure to grab your tickets while you can—the atmosphere is going to be electric!
