Knutson and Ruptash Lift Terriers Past Wolverines

Yorkton, SK: Aiden Knuston broke a 2-2 tie with 7:13 left in the third, and Caleb Allen stopped 27 of 29 to lift the Yorkton Terriers past the visiting Waywayseecappo Wolverines 3-2.

The start to tonight’s opening Frame was similar to last night’s; the Terriers controlled play early as they peppered Wolverines goaltender Merik Andres with 12 shots in the first 8 minutes. The Terriers finally found the scoresheet on a pretty give-and-go by a pair of returning forwards. Brett Butz picked up a pass from Dylan Ruptash and returned the favor, gifting Ruptash a wide-open net and giving the Terriers a 1-0 lead. We played 4 on 4 when Sam McPeak and Butz went off for roughing.

The Terriers had a chance to double the lead when youngster Jye Zawatski dashed in down the left wing, but Andres got a right shoulder on it. Sean Willams had plenty of chances in the opening frame, and it was Terriers goaltender Caleb Allen stoning him on the breakaway, then again moments later in the high slot. But Williams’ persistence paid off; he beat Allen under the glove on his third chance, tying the game at one. The Wolverines weren’t done there with 35 seconds left in the first period Defenceman Wheatley surprised Allen with a slot shot, and it beat him glove side for a 2-1 lead. The Terriers had a 19-10 advantage in shots after twenty.

The Middle frame was full of penalties. Just 16 seconds into the period, the Terriers got a four-minute powerplay after Guerin Apperley was called for kneeing. The Terriers had a couple of good looks from Ruptash and Co. but could not convert. The Terriers had three more man advantages in the frame, and it was the third powerplay where they finally struck. Center Anthony Domina and Jye Zawatski did some excellent work down low to maintain control. Zawatski showed good patience as he took the puck to the net and spotted a wide-open Ruptash backdoor, and he roofed it past the outstretched Andres to tie the game and give him a pair on the evening. The Terriers outshot the Wolverines 23-7 in the second period.

In the third period, the Terriers took a couple of Early penalties, but Allen and the penalty kill came up large to keep the game tied, as he was forced to make a key save off the stick of Neal Kiemeny. When the Wolverines gained momentum after the powerplay, Williams took an unsportsmanlike penalty that shifted the tide. Just past the halfway point of the final frame, the Terriers pounced on a neutral zone turnover. Defenceman Gustav Helm-Kurz fed Aiden Knutson with a nice pass just before the Wolverines’ blue line, and he ripped it off the right post and past Andres to the Terriers a 3-2 lead.

That would stand as the game-winner, and the Terriers fended off a late Wolverines push with the goalie out. With the win, the Terriers improved to 1-0-1 in the pre-season. They will have a home and home against the Melville Millionaires beginning Friday night in Melville.