MELVILLE, SK — DJ Brass broke a 4-4 deadlock with his fourth goal of the preseason midway through the third period, scoring the eventual game-winner as the Yorkton Terriers battled past the Melville Millionaires 6-4 on the road in the latest chapter of the Battle of Highway 10.
The opening twenty minutes of the first installment of the Battle of Highway 10 saw both teams find the back of the net once.
Peter Godley opened the scoring for the visitors, connecting on a feed from Brayden Stephens for his first goal of the preseason.
Off the ensuing faceoff, the Millionaires needed just five seconds to answer. Hudson Closson picked off the puck at the Terriers’ blue line and beat Brady Low five-hole to tie the game at 1-1.
The Terriers went 0-for-2 on the power play in the opening frame, while the Millionaires were unable to capitalize on any of their three opportunities with the man advantage.
Low was the busier of the two goaltenders, stopping 13 of 14 shots, while Kaleb Page turned aside seven of the eight shots he faced.
The offence picked up in the second period, with the Terriers and Millionaires combining for six goals as the back-and-forth Battle of Highway 10 continued.
Kaden Sperle restored Yorkton’s lead early in the frame, finishing off a setup from Jake Briltz and Kale Johns for his second goal of the preseason.
Melville answered shortly after when Parker Salisbury found the back of the net, with Bennett Macek picking up the assist.
The Terriers regained the lead courtesy of Colin Ruotsinoja, who buried his first of the preseason off a feed from Brett Buckley.
Once again, the Millionaires had an answer. Isaiah Bagri scored his third of the preseason, assisted by Jaden Kokosha, to pull Melville even.
Austin Horbachewsky put Yorkton back in front with his first goal of the preseason, with Mathys Morrissette collecting the assist.
But the back-and-forth period had one final twist, as Bagri struck for his second of the frame and fourth of the preseason, tying the game at 4-4 heading into the third period.
In the third period, the Terriers grabbed their fifth lead of the night as DJ Brass broke in alone and beat Noah Kraus on a breakaway for his fourth goal of the preseason, giving Yorkton a 5-4 advantage.
The Terriers locked things down from there before Aidan Vallance sealed the victory with an empty-net goal, securing a 6-4 win in the latest chapter of the Battle of Highway 10.
Brady Low picked up his second win of the preseason, turning aside 35 of the 40 shots he faced.
The Highway 10 rivals will meet again tomorrow night in Yorkton for their preseason finale before the games begin for real on September 19.
