YORKTON, SK – The Melville Millionaires got goals from seven different players in a commanding 7–2 victory over the Yorkton Terriers on Friday night at the Westland Insurance Arena.
The first installment of the Battle of Highway 10 started evenly, with both teams finding the back of the net in the opening frame.
Gabrielle Courchesne opened the scoring for the Terriers, burying his fourth of the season five-hole on Melville goaltender Noah Sinagowitz. Mikale Budz and Jye Zawatsky drew the assists.
Melville responded quickly. Kale Margolis snapped a shot high glove-side on Callum Creig to even the score at 1–1. Despite the tie, the Terriers carried the momentum early, outshooting the Millionaires 18–10 in the first period.
The second period, however, was all Melville.
Grady Carmichael gave the Millionaires their first lead of the night, redirecting a shot from the doorstep past Creig. Just moments later, Leo Jewitt chipped a shot over the Terriers’ netminder and collided heavily with him, sparking a scrum behind the goal. Out of the melee, Zawatsky was assessed a spearing penalty, putting Melville on a four-minute power play.
Yorkton nearly killed off the extended man advantage, but with time winding down, Devon Winder found twine to make it 4–1.
The middle frame was a bit lopsided, with Melville outshooting Yorkton 20–7 in the period and 30–25 overall through forty minutes.
The Terriers clawed one back early in the third when Zach Hertz’s point shot made its way through traffic, cutting the deficit to 4–2.
But the Millionaires shut the door with three unanswered goals to close out the game. Jackson Lee scored on a breakaway, Ty Janz beat Creig with a point shot, and Rylan Oatman tipped home Melville’s seventh of the night.
These two teams meet again Saturday night in Melville. Expect a fired-up Terriers squad looking to bounce back and even the season series.
