One Last Go-Round

If the Yorkton Terriers can hold down top spot in the Sherwood Conference, and the Melville Millionaires get into the Survivor Series, and win, the Mils and Terriers would meet up in the playoffs for a 5th consecutive season.

If all of that doesn't happen, then this weekend could be the last time these two teams will see each other in 2010-2011.

Despite the Terriers holding a 21 point edge in the standings over Melville, the Millionaires have won 4 of the first 6 head-to-head meetings, but three of which being in overtime or shootouts.

Parks Cup Standings
While the Parks Cup is good for bragging rights and nothing more, both teams want to beat the other in the season series, and this year's Park's Cup will come down to the final weekend.

Millionaires vs Yorkton
4-2 (8/12 possible points)

Terriers vs Melville
2-1-1-2 (7/12 possible points)

Goals For/Against are a dead-even 17-17 through 6 games.

Season Series

October 8th: Melville 2 @ Yorkton 1, (SO)
Kyle Jahraus played perhaps his best game in a Melville jersey, stopping 33/34 shots, and 3/3 shootout attempts, as the Millionaires got the extra point in the first regular season meeting. Roger Tagoona opened the scoring for Melville in the first, while Terrier captain Blaine Tendler tied it on the powerplay in the third.

October 9th: Yorkton 5 @ Melville 2
As has been the case in recent years, home ice advantage doesn't mean a lot when these two teams meet up, as the Terriers bounced back on the road the following night. Zak Majkowski scored his 7th and 8th goals of the young season for Yorkton, while Brayden Metz had 1g-1a for the Mils. The goaltending matchup was the same as the night before, but this time it was Devin Peters coming out on top, making 29/31 saves. Clarke Breitkreuz and Metz dropped the mitts late in the second period.

November 19th: Yorkton 3 @ Melville 4 (SO)
A third different goalie stole the show again in the third head to head matchup. This time 17-year-old Mils' tender Zach Rakochy made 55 saves, all three Yorkton shooters in the shootout, as the Terriers out-shot Melville 58-31, but fell in a shootout for a second time. Brayden Metz had another two-point night (1g-1a), while Breitkreuz had his second scrap of the season against the Mils, this time against rugged defenseman Craig Karius.

November 20th: Melville 2 @ Yorkton 4
The second home and home, was a "homer" series, with the Terriers once again answering the bell after a shootout loss, to grab 3 of a possible 4 points for the second straight Highway 10 series. Davis Vandane, now with the Spokane Chiefs, had one of Yorkton's 4 goals, while Lucas Froese potted both for the Mils. At the halfway point of the season series, each team had 2 wins, but Yorkton had 6 points compared to Melville's 4.

December 30th: Melville 5 @ Yorkton 1
The annual New Years home-and-home started with the most lopsided game of the season series to date, and this time it was the visitors getting the early jump after a long Christmas break. Melville led 4-0 after the first period, and that was all the scoring until Metz and Breitkreuz traded third period goals. That was Metz's final goal as a Melville Millionaire. Roger Tagoona scored twice in the 5-1 win, while Cody Hanson had 3 assists.

January 1st: Yorkton 3 @ Melville 4 (OT)
A third game going to extra time, and once again the Mils came out on top, this time in overtime with Roger Tagoona's winner. Mike Rogoschewsky had 1g-2a, while Metz had 2 assists in his final game in Millionaire colours. Cody Hanson had 1g-1a, scoring his last goal as a Mil as well, as both Hanson and Metz were later traded to the Melfort Mustangs in seperate deals. Breitkreuz scored twice for Yorkton, as he continues to be a handful for Melville defensemen this season.

February 4 @ Melville
February 5 @ Yorkton

Head to Head Numbers

- The Millionaires will face the Terriers for the first time since dealing away Brayden Metz and Cody Hanson, their top two scorers overall, and against the Terriers. Metz had 11 points (3g-8a) in 6 games against Yorkton, while Hanson had 2g-5a-7p. Their next biggest producers against the Terriers have been Lucas Froese (5g-1a in 4 games) and Roger Tagoona (4g-2a in 6 games), both with 6 points, and then it really drops off. Infact players not named Metz, Hanson, Froese or Tagoona, have combined for just 3 goals in those 6 games. Michael Rogschewsky (2) and Justin Hollinger. The young guys have picked it up since the trades, and they'll have to this weekend if they hope to get some points against a Terrier team that was a buyer at the deadline.

- This will also be the first game against Melville with the Terriers having Justin Buzzeo and Jeremy Boyer in the lineup. In 10 games with the Terriers, Buzzeo has 7g-14a-21p (and has points in all 10 games) while Boyer has 10g-10a-20p. Head to Head, Zak Majkowski has 5g-1a-6p, Breitkreuz has 4g-1a-5p.

- In goal, Devin Peters has started every game against Melville for the Terriers. Despite being pulled late in the first period of the December 30th matchup, his numbers are still solid, at 2-2-2, 2.90, .905. Don't expect to see him this weekend though, after getting hurt in Wednesday's warmup before the Battleford game. Warren Shymko is expected to the get the nod, and in 43 minutes of relief, allowed just one goal, for a SV% of .938 against the Mils.

- Zach Rakochy's been very good against the Terriers, and he's played every minute of the last 4 meetings. He's 3-1, 2.66, .932. In shootouts, he's a perfect 2-0, and 6-for-6.

More Overtime?
The Millionaires have gone to overtime 11 times this season, while Yorkton's been there 10 times (3 against each other). Extra time has favoured the Mils, who are 8-and-3 in games that go beyond 3 periods (4-1 in OT, 4-2 in SO). The Terriers have struggled with shootouts this season, going 3-for-17 as a team, with a record of 1-4, while they're 3-2 in overtime, and a combined 4-6 after regulation.

Special Teams
Powerplay: Yorkton- 19.8% (8th) / Melville- 19.3% (9th)
Penalty Kill: Yorkton- 80.1% (4th) / Melville- 79.4% (6th)

- I cover both these teams have great working relationships with both coaching staffs, and I've experienced SJHL finals with both, in each of the last two seasons, both losses, in series that could have gone either way. I'm not affiliated directly with either, and can honestly say I don't "prefer" one over the other. I've been accused of BOTH, at times, which means I'm doing it right, since I've heard it from both sides. I do admit, in most of these home-and-homes, I usually think before hand, "Boy, it'd be nice if _______ got a sweep this time," or, "if ________ can at least get a split," or, "3 out of 4 points,"... depending who's where in the standings and needs the points the most. This time... I have no idea what to think! There's no question the Terriers are favoured on paper. And both teams need points, for very different reasons. I suppose it's more important that Melville get some, being that they're fighting for their playoff lives, while the Terriers are hoping to get a more firm hold on first place. Of course I'm hoping the Terriers can stay where they are, AND that Melville gets in. And, it'd be even better if they meet up AGAIN, for a 5th straight season in the playoffs. How bout both games go to OT and each team wins! Too much to ask? Should be a heck of a weekend... We've got the call from Melville tonight, starting at 7:20, but by all means, make the trip to the Vault, and FAA tomorrow. It's gorgeous out... so why not head to the rink both nights... and then Sunday you can relax and watch football!!!

Let's get 'er goin'!