YORKTON, SK – The Yorkton Terriers’ home opener didn’t go as planned on Saturday night, as the visiting Weyburn Red Wings spoiled the festivities with a 6-2 victory inside Westland Insurance Arena. Drew Molde led the charge for Weyburn, scoring a pair of power play goals to pace the Wings’ attack.
The night began with energy and anticipation as Terrier fans packed the rink for the first home game of the new SJHL season. But the momentum quickly swung in Weyburn’s favor. Just over six minutes into the opening period, Yorkton was penalized for a faceoff violation, and Molde made them pay by deflecting a point shot high over the glove of Yorkton starter Callum Creig.
Despite the early setback, the Terriers generated some solid scoring chances of their own. Both Gabriel Courchesne and Aidan Vallance tested goaltender Preston Patenaude, but the Weyburn netminder stood tall to keep the lead intact. The Wings then extended their advantage late in the frame, capitalizing on a defensive-zone miscue. Roan Burgess pounced on the turnover and wired a shot into the top corner to make it 2-0 after one. Weyburn carried a 16-9 edge in shots through the opening 20 minutes.
The second period saw the Red Wings take control. Early on, Molde struck again on the power play, burying his second of the night. Nine minutes later, another Yorkton penalty gave Weyburn another opportunity, and Turner McIntyre didn’t waste it—firing home to give the Wings a commanding 4-0 lead. That would spell the end of the night for Creig, who finished with 19 saves on 23 shots. Alexandro Montoya came in relief for the Terriers.
The Terriers finally gave their fans something to cheer about midway through the second. Yorkton product Vinay Junek crashed the net and banged home a rebound for his first of the season, cutting into the deficit. That goal injected some life into the bench and crowd, though the Terriers still trailed 4-1 after two periods, with Weyburn outshooting Yorkton 28-24.
Yorkton continued to battle early in the third and found some puck luck to close the gap further. Courchesne, who scored twice in Friday’s season opener, was credited with his third of the year when a centering attempt deflected off a Weyburn defender and past Patenaude to make it 4-2. The Terriers pressed for more, but Patenaude shut the door, frustrating Yorkton’s forwards the rest of the way.
Montoya, meanwhile, was tested in his relief appearance. He came up with a big save on a penalty shot attempt by Jase McNichol while the Terriers were shorthanded, keeping his team within reach. However, the Wings would eventually seal the game late. Goals from Carter Bergen and John Adlys put the finishing touches on the 6-2 win for Weyburn. Montoya stopped 9 of 11 in his first SJHL game action.
With the loss, the Terriers fall to 0-1-1 on the young season. They’ll have a few days to regroup before shifting their focus to the Estevan Bruins on Tuesday, September 30th—a chance to bounce back on the road against another division rival.
