Can't wait for this one.We were supposed to broadcast the Mils and Terriers first meeting of the year on October 10th, but there was a problem with the phone lines. I'm told SaskTel fixed it up the following Monday so that's good news.
Know what I'd love to see? A packed barn at Farrell Agencies Arena, and half the fans wearing headphones/radios!
The two teams haven't been getting the best of crowds this season, aside from when they play each other. It makes me scratch my head, because they're both playing very good hockey. I don't think either team likes when we broadcast home games, but we always do the Friday game of Yor/Mvl home-and-homes. I truly believe that the handful of people who might stay home because the game's on the radio is LARGELY out-weighed by the number of people listening who wouldn't have come anyway, due to work, other commitments, sickness, travel, etc. It expands the fan base beyond the 1000 people in the rink, and I think that's important. I truly believe there'll be well over 1000 people NOT at the rink listening to tonight's game in GX94's big area, and online at http://www.gx94radio.com/.
Anyway, let's break this one down.
- Melville's won the last 10 meetings between these two teams, dating back to last year's regular season and playoffs, and the first two games this season, but very few have been lopsided. This season Melville won 4-3 in Yorkton Oct/10, and 6-4 with an empty netter in Melville the following night.
- Tonight's game marks the Mils debut for 18-year-old Brayden Metz. Metz was re-assigned by the WHL's Moose Jaw Warriors earlier in the week. He had 2-goals in 13-games with the Warriors this year, after an early season trade with Chilliwack. Metz was in the WHL as early as age 15, when he played 4 games with his hometown Regina Pats, who drafted him 21st overall in his Bantam Draft year.
- This will also be my first look at another former WHLer and Regina Pat Clarke Breitkreuz for Yorkton. The 17-year-old from Springside already has 3-goals in 2-games with the Terriers. I'll have to catch up with him before the game and ask him how in the world to say his name. Voice of the Pats Rod Pedersen, who's one of the best in the business and I'm sure asked the question as well, called him BRI-kruze. Of course in this area, it's pronounced BRI-kritze. I've also heard his older brother Brett of the Edmonton Oil Kings get called BRI-kruze in the WHL circles.
- Melville's recent shake-up of their forward lines has rejuvenated the season of Matt Kinnunen. After a slow start (much in part to playing hurt), Kinnunen, who has 5-goals and 7-assists for 12-points in 18-games this season, has scored all 5 of those goals and 3 of those assists in his last 5 games. He rides a 5-game point streak (5-3-8) heading into tonight's action.
- Terrier defenseman Greg Coburn has been a model of consistency this season. A lot of "point-per-game" players might get 3 points one night, and none for the next 3. Not Coburn. He's got points in 19 of the Terriers' 25 games this season. He's had one 3-point game, two 2-point games, and the rest of the time, he's been good for a single point almost each and every game. The blue liner leads the Terriers in scoring (25-7-16-23), and ranks 4th among SJHL rearguards, behind Brady Wacker and Tanner Vandesype (HUM), and Taylor Theissen (NIP).
- Mils' goalie Travis Bosch continues to be LIGHTS OUT. He leads the league in Wins (15), Minutes Played (1244) and Save Percentage (.936). In his last 10 decisions, Bosch is 8-1-1 with a 1.40 GAA and a .955%. As a team, the Mils only have one shutout so far this season (Bosch vs EST Sep/13), but they've kept the opposition to one goal 9 times. So in their 19 wins, they've held the other team to 1 goal or less 10 times. They've given up a league-low 51 goals in 24 games (2.13/game).
- Cody Zubko snapped a 3-game pointless streak in a big way, with a 3 point (2-1) effort Wednesday against Estevan. Zubko's second in Terrier scoring, one point behind Coburn.
- Captain of the Millionaires Daniel Hope has 14 points in his last 8 games, and every game he's had points during that stretch has been a multi-point night for the Kelvington product. He's had 2-points four times, and 3-points twice over that stretch. He leads the team in goals (13), assists (20) and points (33).
- While the Mils may have the edge up front as far as putting up points so far this season, the Terriers have received considerably more offense from their defense than Melville. Yorkton's 6 regular defensemen have combined for 17-goals, 42-assists, and 59-points. Coburn (7-16-23), K. Byczynski (5-10-15), Derkach (1-9-10), C. Byczynski (2-3-5), Shackleton (1-4-5), Decker (1-0-1). Melville's top 6 have put up just 3-goals, 16-assists, and 19-points. Beech (0-0-6), Reeve (0-0-4), Mastad (0-0-4), Krahenbil (2-1-3), Houde (1-1-2), Jorgenson (0-0-0). Part of this could be because Melville's powerplay units have at least 4, sometimes 5 forwards on them, while the Terriers generally keep two D-men on the back end, usually Coburn and Kirk Byczynski. Still though, quite the stat I thought. All 6 Terrier defensemen have at least one goal, while only two Mils D-men have scored. Although Tayler Jordan, who's now in Portland, did have 2-goals and an assist during his short stint in Melville.
- And don't forget, Kirk Byczynski is shaving his mullet for Close Cuts For Cancer during tonight's game. You can donate to the cause through the Terriers' website (http://www.yorktonterriers.com/), or the booster booth. I believe Kirk's joining me live on the 12:00 sports today for some more info. Definitely a great cause. Way to go Kirk!
7:20 Pre Game Show, 7:30 faceoff tonight on GX94 from Farrell Agencies Arena.
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