Story Coming In:
Points in six straight games, including taking three of a possible four points in a New Year’s home and home series against Melville, leaves the Terriers in an ideal situation heading into the month of January. Yorkton is on a four game road trip, all against teams below them in the standings. Maximum points from this trip should significantly close the gap between the Terriers and home ice advantage in the first round of playoffs. Yorkton is also one of the hottest teams in the league right now, being one of two teams who have lost one game in regulation in their previous 10 contests. The key to success has been on the back of goaltender Kael DePape, and a score by committee mindset, which has seen production from Maddux Nollski, JD Hall, Zach McIntyre, Parker Jasper, Tanner Sklaruk, among others. If this recipe for success continues, then the Terriers can easily take a full eight points from this road trip.
View From Weyburn:
It’s a similar situation for the Red Wings as at the beginning of the season. Weyburn faces Yorkton in their first game out of the Christmas break, after having two games postponed due to COVID-19. Weyburn struggled heading into the two week break. Losing four games in a row, and 12 of their last 15, the Red Wings find themselves in last place in SJHL. Weyburn has also signaled that they are looking towards next year and beyond. After a quatro of trades, the Red Wings saw the departures of five 20-year-olds in Braden Birnie, Nikolas Sombrowski, Troy Hamilton, Beau Larson, and Nick Dobson. This means four of the team’s top six point getters are gone from the roster, as well as the team captain.
A Star Is Born:
There hasn’t been a lot of talk about him in the league, but there definitely should be. The 2021/22 SJHL season has seen the emergence of Parker Jasper as one of the league’s elite defenders. Playing in all situations on a top d-pairing, the 18-year-old product from Regina has shown excellent defensive play in his own zone, and complimented it with an offensive side that has powered his team. While Jasper has only scored two goals this season, he is leading the team in assists with 17, and is sitting in third in points with 19. A perfect example of Jasper’s development came to light in the Terrier’s last game against Melville. With Tyson Janzen ejected late in the second period, Jasper took control of the defence throughout the third, as Yorkton locked down the game on route to a 4-1 victory. Jasper is showing that not only is he one of the Terrier’s best defenseman, but he’s also one of the best in the league.
Tale of the Tape
Yorkton Terriers (16-13-1-4 – 37 points) Weyburn Red Wings (8-21-3-0 – 19 points)
2nd Viterra Division/ 6th SJHL 4th Viterra Division/ 12th SJHL
Powerplay: 16/127 – 12.6% (10th SJHL) Powerplay: 24/124 – 19.4% (7th SJHL)
Penalty Kill: 138/158 – 87.3% (3rd SJHL) Penalty Kill: 109/145 – 75.2% (12th SJHL)
Last Ten: 7-1-1-1 Streak: 4-0-1-1 Last Ten: 3-7-0-0 Streak: 0-4-0-0
Stats Leaders For Yorkton:
Goals: Gervais (12)
Assists: Jasper (17)
Points: Sleeva & Janzen (20)
PIM: Norum (67)
Goalie: DePape 14-7-0-4, 2.01, 0.926%, 3 SO
