Terriers Begin Road Trip In Nipawin
Photo Credit: Simple Shots By Jackie Story Coming In:
If there is a turning point to Yorkton’s season, Saturday’s game against Flin Flon will be that point. A convincing 5-2 victory on Teddy Bear Toss night saw the Terriers dominate one of the top teams in the league. Dylan Ruptash led the way with a hat trick, while Caleb Allen stopped 38 shots in the win. It was the most complete effort the Terriers have put together this season. With a difficult schedule in December, and Yorkton on the outside of the playoffs looking in, wins like these are important in keeping their season alive. It should be worth noting, last season the Terriers were in a similar situation before turning things around in December, becoming one of the hottest teams in SJHL in the second half of the year. Can they do it again?
View From Nipawin:
The Hawks are on a roll. Nipawin has won seven of their last ten games including three in a row, moving the Hawks into 7th place in the SJHL. One of the most offensively gifted teams, Nipawin is led up front by Alex Johnson, Maguire Ratzlaff, Joel Mabin and Carson Dobson. Seven Hawks have produced 15+ points, while Yorkton only has three. Defence might be the lone weakness for the Hawks, however, they have received stellar goaltending from Jackson Fellner, who the Hawks acquired from the Melfort Mustangs. While Fellner’s numbers don’t jump out at you, he has made the crucial saves that have won Nipawin games. With the difficult schedule ahead, the league will see if Nipawin is for real this season or not.
Waking The Giant:
If Saturday is the turning point for the Terriers, then the Teddy Bear Toss goal could be the turning point for Greg Nelson. In his 20-year-old season, Nelson netted the all important goal that sent the bears to the ice at the Westland Insurance Arena. A goal was huge for the Veteran, Alberta product, who snapped a five game goalless drought, while only producing four points through all of November. The veterans are being asked to step up their game and a game like Saturday’s could be the catalyst to launch the older players and the Terriers into greatness.
Stats Leaders For Yorkton:
Goals: Ruptash (13)
Assists: Hall (11)
Points: Ruptash (20)
PIM: Mayes (117)
Goalie: Allen 10-11-0, 3.66, 0.901% 1SO 1G