Story Coming In:
It was mission accomplished at home for the Yorkton Terriers. After a 2-1 overtime victory, the Terriers got off to a hot start in game 4, scoring three times in the opening 11 minutes, en route to a 5-2 win. Karsten Kruska opened the scoring 18 seconds into the game while adding an assist, Kishaun Gervais also had a goal and a helper, while Kody Norberg’s first career SJHL goal was a game winner. Kael DePape was also solid in goal for Yorkton stopping 38 Melfort shots. DePape has been the difference maker in this series making several timely saves, while the penalty kill has stifled the league’s number one power-play unit. Yorkton will have three opportunities to close out the series against Melfort, and the Terriers will be looking to ride their momentum to victory at the Northern Lights Palace.
View From Melfort:
Simply put, Melfort’s top guns have been frustrated. Ben Tkachuk, Nolan Doell and Marco Lopez, who combined for 164 points in the regular season, have only managed three in the postseason, while the top power-play in the league has only scored once. Granted, injuries and suspensions have played their role against the Mustangs, but Melfort has not received the needed production from their number one players. The only thing that has held Melfort in this series is the play of Joel Favreau who, aside from a rough outing in game 4, has been lights out. The Mustangs also feel that a different bounce here or there in overtime during games 3 or 4, could’ve drastically altered this series. Now with their backs against the wall, Melfort will hope that desperation will kick in and save them from being eliminated.
Sentence Served:
You can almost guarantee that the most fired up Yorkton Terrier for tonight’s game will be co-captain Erik Boers. After vibrating in the stands for the last two games due to suspension, the 20-year-old will look to put his mark on game 5 and lead his team to a series clinching win. The 6-foot-4 power forward is a physical player that no defender wants to run into in a corner. With his sheer size and strength, Boers is built for the postseason. Add the feeling of being wrongfully suspended, and Boers could single-handedly will his team to victory. If he gets on the score-sheet then look out, the Terriers could lock up this series quickly.
Tale of the Tape
Terriers Lead Best of 7 Series 3-1
Game #1: 4-1 Melfort
(Clarke Huxley – 2 goals, Joel Favreau – 27 saves)
Game #2: 4-3 Yorkton (2OT)
(Kishaun Gervais – overtime winner, Cade Kennedy – first SJHL goal)
Game #3: 2-1 Yorkton (OT)
(Greg Nelson – overtime winner and one assist, Kael DePape – 31 saves)
Game #4: 5-2 Yorkton
(Kody Norberg- 1st career SJHL goal & game winner, Kael DePape – 38 saves)
Yorkton Terriers Melfort Mustangs
Powerplay: 2/14 – 14.3% Powerplay: 1/24 – 4.2%
Penalty Kill: 23/24 – 95.8% Penalty Kill: 12/14 – 85.7%
Stats Leaders For Yorkton:
Goals: Gervais & Kruska (2)
Assists: 6 tied at (2)
Points: Gervais & Kruska (4)
PIM: Janzen (20)
Goalie: DePape 3-1-0, 2.19, 0.933%
