Terriers Take Game 1

Some guys think I jinx them by interviewing the before a game. I talked to Brent Struble in La Ronge in last year's final. That game, he was speared where the sun don't shine, and was forced to miss some time. He refuses game day interviews to this day!

Well, Riley Paterson was my guest before Game 1 of the Sherwood Conference Final, and was named first star, after a two-goal performance, leading the Yorkton Terriers to a 7-2 win over the Kindersley Klippers.

Robbie Ciolfi, Brant Remenda, Clarke Breitkreuz, Zak Majkowski and Craig Eisenhut rounded out the scoring, while Spencer Braaten and Jesse Mysiorek struck for Kindersley.

The game certainly wasn't as lopsided as the score was. I thought the Terriers owned most of the first period, out-shooting the Klippers 10-4 and took a 2-0 lead through 20 minutes. I think Kindersley carried the play even more so in the second, and out-shot the Terriers 17-6, but Yorkton out-scored the Klippers 2-1 in the middle frame.

Braaten made it 2-1 midway through the 2nd on a PP goal, but Remenda and Breitkreuz struck less than 2 minutes apart late in the 2nd, in what was likely the turning point of the game.

Kindersley made a 5-on-3 for 1:08 to start the third, but failed to score, and infact took a penalty of their own before it was over. That appeared to be the game, until the Terriers got sloppy in their own end, and Mysiorek scored short-handed.

Again, a quick strike took mometum right back for the Terriers, as Paterson's 2nd of the game came just 44 seconds later.

Shots were almost even, at 31-30 for Kindersley. Devin Peters stopped 29/31 in the win. Sean Cahill allowed 7 on 30 Terrier shots.

Like the Estevan series, the biggest, and maybe only downfall of Game 1 of this series for the Terriers, was their powerplay. Online says 0/4, but they were definitely 0/6, and now 1/16 (6.3%) in the playoffs.

Seven even strength goals makes that easier to swallow, but no PPG's on 6 chances, including a full 5 minute major, and a SHG against would be the biggest thing addressed after Game 1.

I know that wasn't the Klippers' best effort, as their top line of Dommett-Calkins-Adamyk was held off the sheet, as dangerous as they were at times. I don't think we saw them a lot late in the third, and the King-King-Braaten line, especially on the powerplay, seemed to be Kindersley's biggest threat. Sanfred King had 2 assists on the night.

Terriers take the early 1-0 series lead... and they'll do it all over again Saturday night at Farrell Agencies Arena. Pre Game Show at 7:15, Play-by-Play at 7:30.

The Yorkton Harvest are holding their awards banquet at 4:30 Saturday at the Gallagher Centre, and will also have a major announcement during a press conference between the awards presentations and supper. I'll slide over there for that, and have the news on the air during the intermissions of Game 2, and also get it on the blog/twitter.

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Melfort beat La Ronge 4-3 (OT) on the road to steal Game 1 of the Bauer Final.

La Ronge led 1-0 after one, it was 3-1 Melfort after two, before the Ice Wolves tied it with 2 late ones. Eggum (2) and Carre for La Ronge, while Brody Haygarth scored the winner for the Stangs early in overtime.

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MJHL Division Finals
Dauphin Kings 6 @ Portage Terriers 4
(Kings lead 1-0)
Selkirk Steelers 5 @ Winkler Flyers 2
(Steelers lead 1-0)

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Ochapowace lost 5-2 to Pilot Butte in the PJHL South Final. Ochap now trails the series 3-1. Game 5 Saturday in PB.