Terriers Look To Cap Home-Stand With A Win
Photo Credit: Simple Shots By Jackie Story Coming In:
The Terriers are back in the win column with a gutsy 2-1 victory over La Ronge on Wednesday. JD Hall and Pavel McKenzie had the markers for Yorkton, while Tommy Bouchard stopped 28 shots to earn his first career SJHL start. The Terriers have a chance to finish their four game home-stand at .500 with another win in a game that feels like a crucial one before a three game road trip in three nights. Discipline is still a concern, as the Terriers were shorthanded on Wednesday six times, but they did kill off every penalty. They will also be moving on without the services of Karsten Kruska, who left Wednesday’s night with a lower-body injury. That being said, Yorkton has played with a next man up mentality and a score by committee approach. If they continue to receive that, as well as strong goaltending, then the Terriers will be well on their way to a seventh victory this season.
View From La Ronge:
After losing to Yorkton on Wednesday, the Ice Wolves entered the Horizon Credit Union Centre last night to take on Melville. Ethan Strik scored the game winner with four minutes to go, and La Ronge moved ahead of Nipawin for second in the Sherwood Division. Now the Ice Wolves are eyeing revenge against the Terriers. La Ronge probably feels like they deserved the victory on Wednesday, but the strong play of Tommy Bouchard stole the game for Yorkton. Ethan Strik, Walker Jerome and Ryley Morgan lead the Ice Wolves in points with 13, while the addition of Trenton Curtis makes La Ronge a dangerous team offensively. With the emergence of Topher Chirico, La Ronge has two goaltenders they feel like they can rely on. Throw in the fourth best penalty kill unit and tight checking group, and La Ronge is never an easy team to play against.
The Young Dog:
It’s never easy losing a 20-year-old, especially one as impactful in every situation as Karsten Kruska. However, that is the task the Terriers are facing, and they’re hoping one of the young guys will step up. One of the players who could benefit from the opportunity is the youngest Terrier of them all this season. Pavel McKenzie has shown flashes of greatness this season. Playing in eight games, McKenzie has put up four points including two power-play markers. The Cumberland House product has a sense of finding the open areas on the ice, as shown by his two goals, one a backdoor tap in, the other, scooping home a rebound at the side of the net. The youngest player on the team etched himself a regular spot in the line-up, only missing one game, and now with an opportunity to take on a larger role, McKenzie could become a regular in the line-up who is relied on in multiple situations.
Stats Leaders For Yorkton:
Goals: Nelson & Ruptash (4)
Assists: Multiple at (4)
Points: Nelson (8)
PIM: Nollski (38)
Goalie: Allen 5-2-0, 2.70, 0.927% 1SO 1G