The Yorkton Terriers haven't lost on home ice yet this season, but the road has been a different story.
That trend was extended this past week as the Terriers sandwiched a Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League home ice win between a pair of road losses, then added a road win Monday.
The week's action leaves the Terriers with a 5-1-1-1 record and 12 points, best in the SJHL Sherwood Conference, two points up on Estevan and Kindersley who have eight points. Weyburn has six points, with Notre Dame and Melville each having five points.
The Terriers were in Wilcox Monday where they jumped out to a 3-1 lead in the first period, and ended up with a 5-3 win as they added a pair in the third.
Clarke Breitkreuz, Riley Paterson and Kyle McLeod scored in the first period, with Zak Majkowski and Nathan Murray scoring in the third.
Warren Shymko recorded his first win of the season in the Terrier nets, facing 27-shots.
Kale Derkson with a pair, and Trevor Miner scored for the Hounds.
Last Wednesday the Terriers were in Humboldt, and while they led 1-0 after 20-minutes on a powerplay goal by Clarke Breitkreuz, would end up with a loss in overtime.
Humboldt tied the game with the only goal of the second period on a goal by Nick Keller.
Breitkreuz would strike again at 1:28 of the second to give Yorkton a 2-1 lead, only to have Justin Buzzeo tie it for the Broncos at 14:42.
The game would go to an extra five-minutes where Riley Gillies would score the winner on a breakaway at 4:50.
Devin Peters took the loss in the Terrier net facing 36 shots.
Terrier head coach Trent Cassan said while you "always want to get two points," it's " pretty good to get a point," when on the road against a team yet to lose a game this season. " We were 10-seconds away from going to the shoot out."
In spite of the loss, Cassan said he was happy with the team's performance.
"As a coaching staff we were pretty pleased with the 65-minute effort," he said.
Friday the Terriers hosted Estevan, who had the time held a one point edge over Yorkton on the Sherwood standings.
The first period would be a scoreless affair, but goals by Blaine Tendler and Robbie Ciolfi would give Yorkton the lead 2-0 after 40-minutes.
Troy Hunter would score early in the third period on the powerplay for Estevan to draw within one, but Yorkton would outscore the Bruins 3-1 the rest of the way to win 5-2.
Breitkreuz would score a pair for his second straight game, and Zak Majkowski would score for Yorkton, as Dylan Smith notched one for Estevan.
Peters had the win facing 46 shots, while former Terrier Joel Danyluk took the loss facing 37.Peters said there was a little bit extra on the line facing Danyluk, noting he "had our number in the playoffs," when he was playing for LaRonge. "Today we were able to get a win back."
Coming against Estevan was also important.
"It was a big game for first place," said Peters. He said it is a situation where wins now that get the team atop the conference mean not "having to play catch-up later on."
Terrier head coach Trent Cassan said while the win was important, he liked the way the team won."What I liked about tonight, a lot of guys paid the price to get the win," he said.
Cassan said even the skilled players were blocking shots and making checks, and that sort of effort rubs off on the rest of the team.
An example is Breitkreuz, who Cassan said is a skilled player who does little things because "he wants to win He comes to the rink every day with a lot of energy and passion."
Peters said it is a relief to see the team scoring more goals early in the season.
"I love it," he said, adding it takes some pressure off because there is a feeling if he lets one, or two in, the team will respond on offence.
"It just makes it a little easier that you don't have all the pressure," he said. "It's good feeling knowing they have my back."
As for his own season, Peters said he wants "to be one of the top goalies in the league," in hopes that nets him a college scholarship. He added a few scouts have talked to Cassan, but that he still has to write his American SATs.
Saturday night the Terriers were in Wilcox to play Notre Dame, where the teams would play 65-minutes, then go to the shoot-out before the home Hounds would get the win.
The game was a scoreless affair through the opening two periods.
In the third Patrick Thompson-Gale scored at 6:20 for Notre Dame, but a powerplay goal by Majkowski at 14:53 would knot the game and eventually force OT.
In the shoot-out three Terrier shooters were turned away by Hound goalie Russell Abbott, while Thompson-Gale would be the lone Hound to beat Warren Shymko for the win. Shymko would face 26 shots in the loss.
Player moveThe Terriers sent defenceman Drew McDermott to Winnipeg to complete the deal made Jan. 10, last season for Troy Smukowich. Cassan said he was the player Winnipeg selected.
Up nextThe Terriers were scheduled to host Humboldt last night (Tuesday) at the Farrell Agencies Arena, but results were not available at press time.
This weekend the Highway 10 rivalry reignites, with Melville visiting the Terriers Friday night, and Yorkton heading down the highway to face the Millionaires Saturday.
Next Tuesday (Oct. 12), Weyburn rolls into the Farrell Agencies Arena.
