The old saying goes, “To be the best, you have to beat the best.” And that couldn’t ring more true as the Yorkton Terriers gear up to face the defending SJHL Champion Melfort Mustangs in the second round of the playoffs.
The Mustangs stand as the final hurdle between Yorkton and a coveted berth in the SJHL League Final. It’s a clash of two teams who both made quick work of their first-round opponents—Yorkton dispatching Melville in five games, and Melfort doing the same to Kindersley—setting up what promises to be a hard-fought, high-stakes battle.
Playoff hockey often marks the beginning of a new season, and few have embraced that fresh start more than forward Tate Schofer. Schofer has come out flying, lighting the lamp four times in the opening round, including two massive goals—a game-tying marker in Game 2 and the series-clinching overtime winner in front of over 2,000 raucous fans at the Westland Arena in Game 5.
But the Terriers aren’t relying on just one player to carry the load. Offence came from up and down the lineup in Round 1, with 13 different players hitting the scoresheet. Pacing the offence was David Coyle and Jaron Desnoyers, who each posted an impressive seven points over the five-game series.
Yorkton’s special teams are also heating up at just the right time. The powerplay clicked at a strong 25.0%, while the penalty kill shut the door late in the series, finishing at 82.4%, including a perfect 8-for-8 to close things out.
Game 1 goes down at the Northern Lights Palace in Melfort with puck drop at 7:30 PM. Fans can tune in live on GX94 or stream the action on FloHockey.
