MELVILLE, SK: Cale Nachai scored twice in a four-goal second period as the Melville Millionaires defeated the Yorkton Terriers 7-3.
It didn’t take long for the battle of Highway 10 to get reignited. Just four minutes into the hockey game, Tate Schofer mixed it up with Ty Noseworthy after Terrier Defenceman Tyler Palin was boarded in the corner. Both got five for fighting and game misconduct; Schofer got two for instigating and Noseworthy for boarding. No goals were scored on the 4 on 4.
The Terriers got the first grade a chance of the hockey game off the stick of Jaron Desnoyers, but Mills goaltender Noah Davis was equal to the task.
The home side would strike first as Simon Parini received a friendly bounce and beat Callum Crieg’s glove side to open the scoring.
The moneymen would strike 2:25 later; this time, it was Jadon Iyogun tipping home a Logan Goodwin point shot for his first of the preseason.
The Terriers went 0/1 on the man advantage and were outshot 9-7 in the first period.
The home side added another 42 seconds into the middle frame, as Cale Nachai beat Creig for a 3-0 lead.
The Mills would strike again on the powerplay with Leonard in the box for interference; this time, it was Andrew Casellato extending the lead to four.
Midway through the second period, Creig was replaced in goal by Kieran Madill.
The Terriers would find the back of the net on the powerplay as Aiden Knutson tipped his second of the preseason past Carson Rennie, cutting the lead to 3-1.
The visitors would strike again 2:32 later, this time off the rush as Desnoyers snipped one glove side past Rennie to get the Terriers within two.
The Mills, however, would add two more late in the second period. Caden Drury on the man advantage, and Nachai is sneaking one past Madill for a 6-2 lead.
The Millionaires held a 21-19 shot lead after forty minutes.
In the third period, both teams found the back of the net. First, it was Cohen Swan squeaking one through Madill, restoring the Mills four-goal lead.
Things got physical again when Desnoyers was hit at the Mills blueline, forcing Thierry Liliberte to come to the aid of his teammate. Lalliberte and Boston Harkness both received a 5 and a game for fighting.
The Terriers would respond shortly after as Jeff Hammond finished a pretty three-way passing play with Desnoyers and Leonard picking up assists.
The Mills went 2/6 on the man advantage, while the Terriers were also productive, capitalizing on two of the four chances. Melville outshot Yorkton 31-27.
Both teams will clash again up the road as the Terriers host the Mills for a 7:00 PM puck drop.
