The Hockey gods are starting to even things out.
After 10 straight Melville wins over Yorkton, the Terriers swept the Mils over the weekend, following up Friday's 3-1 win with a 2-1 victory in Melville Saturday night.
The Terriers didn't trail all weekend, as Clarke Breitkreuz opened the scoring on Saturday, his fourth goal in his third game as a Terrier. Brayden Metz tied the game with his first SJHL goal for the Mils in the second period, before Greg Coburn got the eventual winner with a 5-on-3 powerplay goal late in the second.
It's the first time the Mils have dropped back to back games this season, they're now 19-5-2. The Terriers improve to 13-9-0-5.
There was a little entertainment in this one. Mils' Coach Jamie Fiesel was tossed after Yorkton's 5-on-3 goal, and made a grande exit! Feez bowed and waved to the fans on his way out the door. It's was the first time he'd ever been tossed from a game, atleast on his own.
Here's how this blog is different than others. I can't really comment on anything, especially between these two teams. I can just say what happened. Most blogs are meant for opinions, etc. Here, you pretty much just get the facts. If I go one way or another, the fecal matter hits the fan. I'll set the record straight right now and say I like both teams and enjoy being around them both, and I know they both can't be in the league final against Humboldt this April, but I sure hope one of them is.
I drove around the block a couple times looking for a place to park, wound up in the Bargain Shop parking lot across from the rink, at about 7:35... on my way across the street, I hear the place erupt, the horn going. I think to myself, ok, 1-0 Melville. I walk in, and it's 0-0, and Melville's on the PK. I was told by a few outraged Mils fans, that Matt Kinnunen scored, and either him or one of his linemates clipped Terrier goalie Devin Peters (who was outstanding again) as the puck crossed the line, the goal was waved off and it was called goalie interfence. Keep in mind I heard the story from Melville fans, and never got the story explained to me by any Terrier supporters.
Although being out-shot 44-28, Yorkton played great and have made huge strides in the last couple weeks. These were two gigantic wins for the Terriers, and makes the South even more interesting, because it looks like they're for real now two, and in the same class as Melville, Kindersley and Weyburn. And don't look now, but Estevan's starting to click and Notre Dame's got a goalie who can steal games. I have NO idea who's gonna finish 6th and out of the playoffs. It's gonna come down to the last week of the season, I will say that much.
And you know what? Yorkton winning these two games over the weekend was the BEST thing that could have happened for this rivalry. Rivalries aren't as fun when one team wins 10 in a row like the Mils did, and when the Terriers had the upper hand during their 2-year championship run. It's 2-2 this season, and as usual, these two clubs will ring in the New Year after Christmas. Who's excited for that home-and-home?
One more stat.
Friday. Game on radio. 1451 fans.
Saturday. Game not on radio. 889 fans.
I've had board members from both teams ask 'Why do you do Yorkton-Melville games? Let the fans come to the games.'
Guess what. They still come!
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