Terriers Open Home And Home Against Melfort
Photo Credit: Simple Shots By Jackie Story Coming In:
Offensive woes bit the Terriers again on Wednesday night. Yorkton only managed 21 shots on goal, none of them finding pay dirt, as Flin Flon shut out the Terriers 2-0. The star of the show was once again Caleb Allen, who was phenomenal in goal making 35 saves, including a highlight reel blocker save in the third period. The penalty kill was also terrific, shutting down the top power-play unit in the league, and even creating chances of their own. Affiliated player and local product, Grady Hoffman, also stood out for the Terriers on Wednesday as a threat on the ice every shift. If he signs with the team, he could be in the conversation for rookie of the year next season. Now the Terriers shift their attention on the Melfort Mustangs. Yorkton has historically done well against Melfort at the Westland Insurance Arena and won their lone meeting 3-2 in a shootout in Yorkton. Tysen Smith earned his first career SJHL win in the game while Maddux Nollski scored the shootout winner. It’s a must win game for the Terriers, after both Weyburn and Notre Dame won their contests, last night.
View From Melfort:
The Mustangs have a chance at home ice in the first round of the SJHL playoffs. Currently sitting in 5th place and eight points behind La Ronge with three more games against the Ice Wolves, the opportunity is there. Melfort also has five games in hand on La Ronge. The Mustangs are also looking for a bounce back game after a pair of defeats in western Saskatchewan. Melfort found themselves behind the eight ball against Battlefords and couldn’t quite claw their way back into the contest, before dropping an egg against the Kindersley Klippers. With points at a premium this late in the season, Melfort will be looking to maximize their position for a favourable spot in the postseason dance.
Fountain Of Youth:
Coming into the season, there were questions about how the Terriers would replace the 15 players who graduated or left the team from last season. Yorkton now has 11 rookies on the team spread through all positions. You could point to Caleb Allen and Dylan Ruptash as the two rookies who’ve made the biggest impact on the team on a regular basis. However, players like Pavel McKenzie, Cade Kennedy and Ashton Funk have also made their impacts as they get more and more comfortable with junior hockey. The adjustment from AAA hockey to Junior A is huge, and it’s part of why Yorkton has had their struggles this season. While the playoffs look to be out of the Terriers’ grasp this year, the young players should have this fan base excited for future seasons as they grow and become league leaders in the years to come.
Stats Leaders For Yorkton:
Goals: Ruptash (18)
Assists: Hall (16)
Points: Ruptash (30)
PIM: Mayes (163)
Goalie: Allen 13-20-1, 3.80, 0.898% 1SO 1G