From Nipawin

NIPAWIN-- The Terriers left Yorkton before noon today, ate lunch and then checked in to the Hotel right on the Evergreen Golf Course, where I'm typing this very post from. Beautiful place, even in the winter with a little snow on the ground. I even scored my own room somehow, complete with internet. Thanks again Lyle et al at GX for the laptop!

Startin to feel the Christmas spirit. Much in thanks to Terriers' goalie Joel Danyluk. Joel brought three boxes of Christmas oranges on the bus to share today. And he didn't stop there. Right after pre game meal, Joel led a nice 5-person harmony of "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" infront of everyone (I believe because they lost the shootout at the end of the morning skate). Joining Joel were Kurtis Decker, Shawn Shackleton, Derek Derkach and Chad Crozier. All D-men. No wonder they lost the shootout. Danyluk took lead vocals while his four defenseman chimed in with the echos ("like a lightbulb," "like monopoly," etc).

Anyway, Terriers and Hawks tonight. As soon as I got on the bus Kevin Stringfellow, who's out of the lineup, immediately offered to do colour, so looking forward to that.

- This is the third meeting between these two teams this season, and the first in Nipawin. The Terriers are 1-0-0-1 in the season series, winning 2-1 September 19th, and falling 6-5 (SO) on October 22nd. That was one they'd probably like to forget, having squandered a 4-0 lead.

- Not too many remarkable stats as far as head to head goes. Cody Zubko's got 2-goals and 3-points vs Nipawin this season, while Torey Dyck, Mike Rey and Matt Schneider all have 3-points for the Hawks against Yorkton.

- Two of the league's most offensively gifted defensemen square off tonight. Yorkton's Greg Coburn leads the Terriers in points (8-18-26), while Nipawin's Taylor Theissen (7-18-25) is one point shy of captain Torey Dyck (12-14-26).

- Derek Serdachny's got 10 points (3-7) in his last 10 games, while Torey Stott has 7-goals in his last 10. Of course 3 came in last Friday's 3-1 win over Melville.

- In limited opportunities, Nipawin's special teams have been strong against the Terriers. (PP: 2/7, 28.6%... PK: 7/8, 87.5%).

All for now, talk to y'all at 7:20.