MELVILLE, SK — Jye Zawatsky scored 1:30 into overtime as the Yorkton Terriers extended their season-best winning streak to six games, edging their Highway 10 rivals, the Melville Millionaires, 4–3 on the road Saturday night.
The opening period belonged to the home side, as Melville struck twice. Braden Gourley opened the scoring on the power play, capitalizing on a bounce in front and slipping the puck blocker side past Alexandro Montoya. Just over four minutes later, the Millionaires doubled their lead when Grady Carmichael redirected a puck off the skate of Terriers defenceman Thomas Ries and in for a 2–0 advantage.
Yorkton had a lengthy 5-on-3 early in the game but couldn’t solve Melville goaltender Preston Patenaude, who turned aside 14 shots in the opening frame. Montoya was equally sharp at the other end, making 16 saves to keep the Terriers within striking distance.
The Terriers began to swing the momentum in the middle stanza, finally breaking through in the final minute of the period. Brett Buckley’s point shot found its way past Patenaude for his third of the season, cutting the deficit to 2–1. Yorkton controlled the frame, outshooting Melville 14–4.
In the third, the Terriers pulled even when Vinay Junek burst down the left wing and roofed his 14th of the season high glove side to tie the game 2–2. Melville responded once more, as Maddox Shindle beat Montoya to restore the Millionaires’ lead at 3–2.
But the Never Say Die Terriers weren’t done yet. With Montoya on the bench for the extra attacker, Gabriel Courchesne blasted home his 26th of the season with 1:35 remaining to force overtime.
The extra frame was all Yorkton. Thomas Ries generated the first quality chance but was denied in tight before Zawatsky sealed it moments later. Skating down the right wing on a 2-on-1, Zawatsky ripped his 21st of the season under the blocker of Patenaude to cap the comeback and secure the win.
Montoya was outstanding between the pipes, stopping 26 shots to earn his second win of the week and eighth of the season.
With the victory, the Terriers sit alone atop the Bunge Division standings—setting the stage for a pivotal showdown Wednesday night in Weyburn.
