The opening twenty minutes between the Millionaires and Terriers had all the intensity fans have come to expect from this rivalry — fast-paced, physical, and with no love lost. Scrums followed nearly every whistle, and both teams found the back of the net in a tightly contested frame.
The Terriers struck first, as Gavin Bartha snapped a blocker-side shot past Matt Spencer-Dahl, igniting the Westland crowd early.
Yorkton had several chances to extend their lead on the power play, generating multiple Grade-A opportunities, but couldn’t find a way past Spencer-Dahl.
Despite being heavily outshot 18–5 in the period, the Millionaires responded. Preston Baerwald beat Callum Creig glove side to even the game at 1–1.
In the second period, the visitors grabbed their first lead of the night off a tough bounce behind Creig. A puck caromed off the end boards and landed right on the stick of Kale Margolis, who made no mistake on the power play.
Melville held a slight edge in shots in the middle frame, outshooting Yorkton 13–11.
In the third, the Terriers pushed hard for the equalizer, firing 11 shots on Spencer-Dahl. They were granted another power-play opportunity — their seventh of the game — but were unable to convert.
Tensions boiled over late in the period, as Austin Horbachewsky and Grady Carmichael dropped the gloves at centre ice in an attempt to spark momentum.
Still trailing by one, the Millionaires added insurance when Wesley Golden’s point shot found its way past Creig. An empty-net goal would follow, sealing a 4–1 Game 1 victory for the visitors.
The Terriers will look to bounce back and split the series on home ice tomorrow night, with puck drop set for 7:00 PM.
