It was a close contest, and the Yorkton Terrriers did manage an overtime point, but it was also another loss this one to Melfort Friday at the Farrell Agencies Arena.
Ashton Clark struck only 3:51 into the game to give the visitors the early lead.
But the Terrier powerplay would knot the score as Jordan McCausland found the twine at 11:14.
Tyler Baier would finally break the tie with a late goal in the second period. The goal came at 17:41.
Adam Santoro made it 3-1 for the home side striking only 11-seconds into the third period.
Tristan Frei would cut into the Terrier lead with a Mustang marker at 5:26.
Baier would get that one back with the Terrier鈥檚 fourth of the night coming at 9:10.
But at 10:53 Craig Leverton would make it 4-3.
And then at 18:18 Melfort would tie the game at fours as Justin Boyer scored.
The game would progress to the five-minute, four-on-four where it would take only 1:20 for the SJHL鈥檚 leading goal scorer to win the game for the Mustangs as Travis Mayan netted his 45th of the season.
Evan Plotnik was in the net for the Mustangs win facing 25-shots, while Jakob Severson took on 31-shots in the loss for Yorkton.
Trent Cassan said against a Division-leading team such as Melfort the performance was generally a positive one.
鈥淔or the most part it was. We worked hard. We don鈥檛 give up a whole lot of shots,鈥� he said, but he added the eventual loss stung after holding leads of 3-1 and 4-2.
鈥淚n the third period against a team that鈥檚 really dangerous offensively we turned the puck over too much,鈥� he said, adding Melfort showed their championship pedigree from last season by not giving up until the end.
鈥淭here were some mistakes that we made that bit us.鈥�
That said, Cassan added when reviewing game film there will be positives to show.
鈥淭here were some good things that we did do,鈥� he said, adding they will work to 鈥榬einforce鈥� those areas in the last week of the regular season.
And the mistakes are yet another learning tool. He said there are areas the Terriers could have done some things better.
Cassan added making errors against good teams is usually costly.
鈥淭hey鈥檙e a top team for a reason. Give them a little bit of ice and they鈥檒l certainly jump on it,鈥� he said.
The overtime point leaves Yorkton with 46 points based on a record of 19-28-3-5 and third spot in the SJHL Viterra Division.
Weyburn leads the loop with 79, Estevan slots in second with 65 and Melville sits in the basement and out of the playoffs with 33.
Finalists
In other Terriers news two team members are among the finalist for this year鈥檚 SJHL awards.
McKenzie Welke is up for Rookie of the Year honours against Kristian Stead from Nipawin, and Battlefords鈥檚 Layne Young.
Welke has 19-goals and 18 assists for 37-points to share top spot among Yorkton players with Corwin Stevely.
Welke is also fourth overall among SJHL rookies in scoring.
Regan Seiferling leads Terrier rearguards in scoring with nine goals and 23 points for 32-points, and is fourth overall among SJHL defencemen in scoring.
Seiferling is a finalist for Defenceman of the Year along with Melfort鈥檚 Eric Sinclair, Battleford鈥檚 Connor Sych, Notre Dame鈥檚 Payton Hogan and Estevan鈥檚 Zach Douglas.
Up next
The Terriers were scheduled to host Notre Dame last night (Tuesday), but results were not available at press time.
Friday Yorkton heads to Estevan, then return to the Farrell Agencies Arena to host Humboldt Saturday in their final regular season game.
Cassan said the Terriers are going to be important as the team would like a win, or two to build on heading into the playoffs for the first time in two seasons.
鈥淲e鈥檇 like to get some wins,鈥� he said, adding that鈥檚 especially the case on home ice where in their last two the Terriers have given up leads late, and then lost in OT.
鈥淲e want to prove to ourselves in tough, one-goal games we can really clamp down,鈥� he said, or to have the perseverance to come from behind if that is what is needed to win.
