The Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League playoffs are set to begin, and one of the most anticipated quarter-final matchups features two Highway 10 rivals: the 5th-seeded Melville Millionaires and the 4th-seeded Yorkton Terriers.
The season series between these two clubs was as tight as it gets, with both teams winning four games apiece. Fittingly, they split their final weekend matchups, with the road team emerging victorious each time.
For Yorkton, offensive firepower is a major strength. Jaron Desnoyers led the way with 75 points, including 30 goals, while David Coyle paced the team with 32 goals, finishing just five points behind Desnoyers. On the blue line, rookie defenceman Thomas Ries and Bryce Dahl have stepped up down the stretch, solidifying a young but stingy defensive core.
Between the pipes, Head Coach Emery Olauson faces a tough decision on who gets the Game 1 start. Both Callum Creig and Ethan Farrow split duties to close out the regular season, and each performed well. Farrow capped the season with his best performance—a stellar .974 save percentage in the final game against Melville
Special teams could be a deciding factor in this series. Yorkton boasted one of the league’s most dangerous power plays, finishing second at 23.6 percent, while Melville struggled with the man advantage, ranking 11th at 17.2 percent. However, the Millionaires excelled on the penalty kill, ranking fourth in the SJHL at 82.2 percent with 14 shorthanded goals. Yorkton’s penalty kill, at 79 percent, was more middle of the pack but still chipped in with eight shorthanded goals.
This playoff showdown continues a decades-long rivalry. Yorkton holds the edge historically, winning seven of their 12 postseason meetings, including their last clash in 2014 when they swept Melville en route to an SJHL championship. The Millionaires last won a series against the Terriers in 2012, taking it in five games. Their battles date back to 1982, and this year’s series is shaping up to be another classic.
Game 1 gets underway tonight at 7:00 PM from Westland Insurance Arena, and fans can watch the action on FloHockey or tune in to GX94 for live coverage.
