Halfway Report: Yorkton Terriers

Record: 14-9-0-5... 33 pts... T-3rd in Sherwood

On Pace: 28-18-0-10 (66 pts) .589%

Synopsis:
This may be a controversial statement and I hope it doesn't strike a nerve, but as a community I think Yorkton's been spoiled in recent years with the Terriers winning back-to-back championships in '04-'05 and '05-'06, and now, it's a "first place or bust" mentality. Whether it's the coffee shop, the SJHL Message Board, around town, things were very negative about the Terriers this season when they were at or around the .500 mark.
Well I'll defend the organization right here and now by saying the first half of the season's been anything but a disappointment. The Dogs were dealt a serious blow in their first game when a hit from behind ended David Skagen's 19-year-old season before he'd even played a full SJHL game. Skagen had already scored in that game (Sept/12 vs WEY), and was my pre-season pick to lead the Terriers in goals. That's a HUGE loss. Two games in, Bryan Hull goes down for 20+ games with a broken hand. There's your top 2 wingers off your first line, and they still managed to tread water at or above .500. Infact despite these injuries the Terriers have not been below the .500 mark all season.
Now, the Terriers are knocking on the doors of the Sherwood's top 3 teams. Hull's back, while Clarke Breitkreuz, a 17-year-old re-assigned Regina Pat, has lit things up since coming over last week, filling the role vacated by Skagen.
At the start of the year it looked clear that 20-year-old Jordan Barry was the undisputed #1 goaltender, and now he's no longer with the team. And I really don't think it was a case of him playing his way off the team, but more a case of two 18-year-olds just playing a little better, and earning their spots. Devin Peters and Joel Danyluk are the 1-2 punch, with Peters, the reigning SJHL Goalie of the Week, shouldering most of the load of late.
Defense was a question mark but is emerging as a strength. Greg Coburn and Kirk Byczynski might be the top defensive pairing in the Sherwood Conference, with Coburn leading the team in scoring, and probably averaging in the neighbourhood of 35 minutes of ice time per game. I've noticed major improvements in the rest of the D corps, with Kurtis Decker, Derek Derkach, Clarke Byczynski, Shawn Shackleton and newcomer Chad Crozier all staying within their roles and keeping things simple. Team Defense as a whole, including their forwards, has also been very strong. A good example was their PK against Melville over the weekend. They let the Mils set up outside, but didn't allow a lot of shots while short-handed.

What to expect?
Although they've made major strides in the last month, the Terriers still have some work to do if they want to escape a second straight season in the Survivor Series. While they're close to the top 3, they've played more games than two of the teams in front of them. And with Estevan's new additions starting to gel, and Notre Dame landing WHL goalie Todd Mathews, the Terriers aren't exempt from checking the rear-view mirror. They're certainly capable of moving up but they have to get points in those in-conference games, especially against teams like Weyburn, Estevan and Kindersley, and getting more OT or SO points wouldn't hurt either. The Terriers have 5 shootout losses to lead the league by far in that department. They're 1-and-5 in SO's. Had they split those 6, the standings would look a little different. I'm gonna say the Terriers sneak into the top 3 before it's all said and done, and Weyburn will be the team that slips out of it. Surprising, since I figured they'd win the Conference this year before the season started.

HALFWAY HARDWARE
I'm making these awards up, and I'll do them for all 4 of our local teams. The standard MVP, MIP (Most Improved), and MPS (Most Pleasant Surprise).

Agree, disagree, other suggestions... feel free to comment below.

Most Valuable Player
Greg Coburn, Defense

This was almost a no-brainer. Coburn's easily Top-5 in SJHL defensemen. I don't think too many people would argue if I said Humboldt's Brady Wacker and Tanner Vandesype are 1-2. Also in that Top-5 would probably be Flin Flon's Michael Young, and Taylor Thiessen of the Nipawin Hawks. The other 4 are all from the Itech, which leaves Coburn as, I would say, the best defenseman in the Sherwood Conference. He logs over 30:00 per game, leads the Terriers in scoring, and is a leader on and off the ice as a 20-year-old.

Most Improved Player
Jordan Menke, Forward

Menke was re-assigned to Fort Knox (PJHL) last season, but has clearly established himself as a top 9 forward this year. He seems to have an extra gear this season, more jump in his step and just looks quick playing the wing. He's got 17-points in 28-games, and is my pick for MIP.


Most Pleasant Surprise
Devin Peters, Goaltender

I'll get to an honourable mention in a second. But for a guy who phoned the Terriers for a try-out himself, then drove himself from south east Manitoba to Yorkton in time for camp, to now playing the bulk of the Terriers games, winning SJHL Goalie of the Week, surprises don't come any more pleasant than that. I almost picked rookie forward Torey Stott. I think Stott was expected to play in the top 2 lines and contribute right away, but I don't think even Coach/GM Ed Zawatsky would have ever thought he'd be leading the team in goals (13). Stott gets a runner-up mention, but I gotta go with Peters.