Yorkton Faces Must Win In Weyburn
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As the calendar flips to February, it’s must win time for the Yorkton Terriers. Finding themselves 11 points back of Weyburn for the final playoff spot with 15 games left, the Terriers have to go on an impressive run, become one of the hottest teams in the league, just for a chance to qualify for the postseason. Tonight they will be without the services of Clay Sleeva, who is serving his final game of a three match suspension. However, Dylan Ruptash is fresh off a solid performance at the SJHL/MJHL Showcase in Winnipeg, and that experience could pay dividends heading into the final full month of the season. Caleb Allen has bounced back in his last three starts, but is still looking to snap a personal seven game losing skid. If the power-play can find some traction, and the team can find the back of the net more often, then Yorkton could have an unlikely chance of seeing playoff hockey in 2023.
View From Weyburn:
Simply put, one of the hottest teams in the SJHL right now, which is not good news for the teams chasing them. Weyburn is on the verge of eliminating any doubt of who the eight playoff teams are for the 2022/23 season. The Red Wings are on a seven game points streak, have a seven point lead on Notre Dame in 9th, and they have a favorable schedule. Destiny is in the hands of Weyburn. The biggest difference makers for Weyburn are Ryley Morgan, Matteo Turrin and Jakob Kalin. Those three lead the charge on offence, with the addition of Morgan being the ultimate key to the Red Wings’ success. When you take them away, then you have to deal with Ty Mason, Mi-Kwan Tallman and Simon Pollock. This is a team that used last season’s missed chances as an opportunity to rebuild and mess with each other, and so far it is paying off dividends.
The Vet:
It’s been a tough season for Yorkton’s returning players. While there have been some success stories like Tyson Perkins’ return from surgery and the emergence of Cale Strasky as a steady defender, the forwards haven’t produced at the rate that was expected of them. The forward with the most points out of the returning players is Greg Nelson. The 20-year-old from Veteran, Alberta has posted 22 points in 41 games, with the majority of his production coming in bunches. Since the calendar flipped to 2023, Nelson has only put up two points for Yorkton. The Terriers chances of making the playoffs are slim and if they want to qualify, they will need consistent production from the veterans to get them there. If players like Nelson, Saleski, Nollski, Cyca and Hall can produce on a nightly basis, then that slim chance of making the postseason can become a reality.
Stats Leaders For Yorkton:
Goals: Ruptash (18)
Assists: Hall (16)
Points: Ruptash (28)
PIM: Mayes (144)
Goalie: Allen 12-19-1, 3.92, 0.894% 1SO 1G