Story Coming In:
The Terriers entered the Christmas break as one of the hottest teams in SJHL. With points in four straight, and a signature win over the Estevan Bruins, Yorkton heads into 2022 full of confidence. Maddux Nollski has the hot stick for the Terriers, potting four goals in his last two games including a hat-trick vs Estevan. Kael DePape continues his impressive season having won six of his last seven contests, giving up two goals or fewer in all but two of those games. The loss of Logan Cyca to injury is a blow for the Terriers, but Yorkton has the depth and the talent to make up for the loss of the Sherwood Park native.
View From Melville:
After getting swept in a home and home series by the Yorkton Terriers, the Mils turned around and won two of their next three games before the break. The offence started to find its way with wins by 4-1 and 6-2 over Weyburn and Notre Dame, respectively. Melville gets another jolt to their lineup with the return of Kyle Bochek, who was released by the Vancouver Giants of the WHL. Bochek could be the piece that bolsters the Moneymen’s offence on a regular basis, joining the likes of Zach Cain, Noah Wills, Jonathan Krahn and Nicholas Samson.
Kru Time:
As mentioned before, Logan Cyca will be out of the lineup for a considerable amount of time due to an injury suffered against Estevan just before the Christmas break. While losing a player of Cyca’s caliber does hurt, the Terriers have plenty of depth to make up for his close to a point a game production. One of those players is 19-year-old Karsten Kruska. Kruska had a good start to the season, but has seen his production taper off as of late, and he has found himself a healthy scratch in recent games. Kruska has a good shot and the hockey sense to succeed at this level, he just needs to find the consistency. If the Edmonton product’s game clicks over the next month, the Terriers will have another weapon to add to an offence that is already coming to life.
Tale of the Tape
Yorkton Terriers (15-13-1-3 – 34 points) Melville Millionaires (10-15-7-0 – 27 points)
2nd Viterra Division/ 6th SJHL 3rd Viterra Division/ 10th SJHL
Powerplay: 16/121 – 13.2% (9th SJHL) Powerplay: 14/119 – 12.9% (10th SJHL)
Penalty Kill: 131/150 – 87.3% (3rd SJHL) Penalty Kill: 66/86 – 76.7% (10th SJHL)
Last Ten: 6-2-1-1 Streak: 3-0-1-0 Last Ten: 5-4-1-0 Streak: 2-0-0-0
Stats Leaders For Yorkton:
Goals: Gervais (11)
Assists: Jasper (14)
Points: Sleeva & Janzen (19)
PIM: Norum (65)
Goalie: DePape 13-7-0-3, 2.06, 0.925%, 3 SO
