Terriers And Bruins Collide At Home Opener
Photo Credit: Simple Shots By Jackie Story Coming In:
The Terriers got excellent goaltending and a pair of power-play markers to edge past the Estevan Bruins on opening night 3-2. Kaden Bandura opened the scoring with his first career SJHL goal, while JD Hall and Clay Sleeva added singles, Sleeva’s goal being the eventual game winner. Caleb Allen, in his Terriers regular season debut, made 42 saves on the night, including a couple of massive stops on a 5-on-3 power-play to preserve the victory. Now the home and home series shifts to the Westland Insurance Arena. Last year, Yorkton beat Estevan once on home ice, a convincing 5-2 triumph on December 17th. The Terriers also haven’t started a campaign at 2-0 since the 2014-15 season. As they celebrate their start of 50 years of Terriers hockey in the SJHL, they look to change that in front of what’s expected to be a packed house at the Westland Insurance Arena.
View From Estevan:
The Bruins had their chances on opening night, but ultimately saw the party get spoiled by the Terriers. On the night where they unveiled their 2022 SJHL Championship banner, Yorkton came in and took first blood in the season series. Special teams was the difference maker in the contest. Two of Yorkton’s goals came on the man advantage, while Estevan went 1 for 8 on the man advantage and they were unable to cash in on a late 5-on-3 power-play, later 6-on-3 with the goalie pulled. Cam Hrdlicka was excellent in goal for the Bruins making multiple saves to keep his team in it, while Kade Runke and Cody Davis were dangerous around the Yorkton goal all night long. Now it’s the Bruins who look to crash the party at the Terriers home opener, a building where Estevan has won four straight.
The Northern Man:
Lots of new faces decorate the Terriers lineup and a lot of new faces have the Terriers excited for the present and future. With three of the last year’s top defencemen moving on from the team, Mat Hehr went out recruiting to fill the void. One of those blue chip recruits is Dalton Mayes of Anchorage, Alaska. Playing with Gilmour Academy in Ohio last season, Mayes is a defenceman who can be effective at both ends of the rink. A rare right handed shot, the 19-year-old adds a wrinkle in the offensive zone that can give the opposition fits. And don’t let his 5-foot-11 stature fool you. Despite his smaller size, Mayes plays with a ton of bite and he won’t back down from anyone, as his two fights in the preseason has proven. Provided he keeps his discipline in check, Mayes will be a top two defender for the Terriers this season.