YORKTON, SK: Evan Auld’s second-period marker early in the second period stood up as the game-winner as The Yorkton Terriers defeated the Melville Millionaires 4-1 to take a 1-0 Series Lead.
In the first period of Game One of the Playoffs, the Terriers got off to a fast start, outshooting the Mills 8-1 in the first six minutes and earning an early goal.
Jaron Desnoyers drove to the net and fired the puck off the pad of Ben Laurette, allowing David Coyle to jam home the loose puck in the crease for his first goal of the playoffs—giving the home crowd plenty to cheer about.
The Mills responded on the power play when Simon Parini received a cross-ice feed from Jadon Iyogun and buried the puck behind Farrow to tie the game.
The Terriers had two power play opportunities but failed to convert. They outshot the Mills 9-7 in the first period.
In the middle frame, the Terriers regained the lead off a faceoff as Evan Auld powered his way to the net and backhanded the puck under Laurette’s arm for his first goal of the playoffs.
The Terriers’ offence struck again just over four minutes later when Tate Schofer tipped a Riley Cormier point shot from the slot, extending their lead to its largest of the night. Harrison Aldridge picked up the second assist.
The Terriers successfully killed off a pair of Millionaires’ power plays in the second period and outshot them 9-7.
In the third period, the Terriers tightened up defensively, allowing just five shots from the Mills while generating 15 of their own.
Jaron Desnoyers sealed the win with an empty-net goal late in the period, after a key penalty kill, as the Yorkton Terriers struck first in the Battle of Highway 10 series with a 4-1 Game One victory. Ethan Farrow was excellent in goal, stopping 18 of 19 shots he faced.
Game Two goes Sunday night at Westland Arena, with puck drop at 7:00 PM.
