Terriers, Hounds Collide In Crucial Matchup
Photo Credit: Simple Shots By Jackie Story Coming In:
After last night’s contest against Weyburn was postponed due to weather, the Terriers find themselves playing the final game of a now four game road trip. A perfect 3-0 so far, Yorkton has tallied a pair of wins against Weyburn and a victory against Nipawin clinching a playoff berth for the Terriers. Yorkton is on a season-long five game winning streak, having scored at least four goals in every game during their run. Karsten Kruska, the reigning SJHL rookie of the month, has led the way with 15 points during February. He is also on a six game point streak, as is overager Carson Henry. Continued success may be dictated by how the offense performs, while the Terriers continue to battle for that 6th position in the SJHL playoffs.
View From Notre Dame:
The Hounds are so close to clinching a playoff berth they can already taste it. Just needing a single point to make it to the postseason, Notre Dame will get their first opportunity in five tries to tally that point. The Hounds played some excellent hockey lately, sweeping a three game northern road swing with stops in Nipawin, Flin Flon and La Ronge. Notre Dame did come back to earth, after getting drop-kicked by Estevan on Wednesday 7-0. However, led by the MVP of February and arguably the league’s hottest player right now in captain Kevin Anderson, and with Austin Elliott playing well in net, the Hounds should make the postseason without too much difficulty. Whether it happens tonight or not is a different question entirely.
The Long Awaited Return:
Before going down with injury right before the Christmas break, Logan Cyca was posting nearly a point a game pace for the Terriers. Through 20 games this season, the Sherwood Park product has 15 points while forming a deadly combination with co-captain Kishaun Gervais. Cyca brings speed, skill and a bulldog attitude to this Yorkton squad, immediately making the Terriers better at center. Cyca is expected to return to the lineup tonight, and while immediate production might be a lot to ask, getting the 19-year-old back is massive for Yorkton as they prepare for the playoffs.
Tale of the Tape
Yorkton Terriers (27-21-1-6 – 61 points) Notre Dame Hounds (24-24-3-2 – 53 points)
2nd Viterra Division/ 7th SJHL 3rd Global Ag Risk Division/ 8th SJHL
Powerplay: 27/205 – 13.2% (9th SJHL) Powerplay: 46/213 – 21.6% (5th SJHL)
Penalty Kill: 213/244 – 87.3% (3rd SJHL) Penalty Kill: 168/207 – 81.2% (6th SJHL)
Last Ten: 7-1-0-2 Streak: 5-0-0-0 Last Ten: 5-5-0-0 Streak: 0-1-0-0
Stats Leaders For Yorkton:
Goals: Gervais (21)
Assists: Norum (28)
Points: Norum (42)
PIM: Norum (94)
Goalie: DePape 20-14-0-5, 2.25, 0.919%, 4 SO