Yorkton Victorious In A Shootout
Photo Credit: Simple Shots By Jackie Maddux Nollski had the shootout winner, while Tysen Smith made 25 saves for his career SJHL win, and the Yorkton Terries snapped their seven game losing streak with a 3-2 win over the Melfort Mustangs. Dylan Ruptash and Brett Butz had the markers for Yorkton, as they continue to hunt for a playoff spot.
Melfort opened the scoring just 39 seconds into the game. Leyton Holoien released a shot from the left circle which deflected over the shoulder of Smith to make it 1-0. Terriers responded less than two minutes later. Colton Koran pulled off a behind the back pass to Butz, who fired a one-timer past Joel Favreau tying the game at 1-1. A collision between Clay Sleeva and Favreau saw the Yorkton forward receive a game misconduct, while Favreau left the game after the first period to be replaced by James Venne.
The score stayed at a standstill until the third period. Pavel McKenzie stripped David Rioux at the Melfort blue-line and sent Ruptash in on a breakaway, where the Edmonton product picked the top corner. For Ruptash, his 18th goal of the season and 28th point, moves him into the lead for all rookies in the SJHL. However, the Mustangs found the equalizer. On the power-play, a Kevin Minnoch point shot deflected off a Terrier, past Smith to make it 2-2.
Overtime solved nothing. Both goalies stood tall in the shootout with Smith stopping all three Melfort shooters. Nollski clinched the game with a snipe over the glove of Venne and the Terriers left with two points.
The Terriers will look for their second straight win on Tuesday when they visit the Nipawin Hawks. GX 94 will broadcast the game with the pre-game show starting at 6:50pm and play-by-play beginning at 7:00pm.