The Yorkton Terriers used a five-point week to climb back into sole possession of second place in the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League's Sherwood Conference.
The two wins, coupled with an overtime loss left the Terriers with a 24-18-2-2 record and 52 points, 13-back of Conference-leading Weyburn.
Estevan sits third with 49-points, followed by Melville with 48, Notre Dame 37, and Kindersley with 22.
The overtime loss came Saturday in Melville, where the Millionaires roared to a 4-1 lead after 20-minutes.
Ryon Sookro had given the Terriers a 1-0 lead, until the Mills scored four in an eight-minute span. Jesse Mireau, Tyler Bird, Sean Aschim and Lee Christenson scored for the home team.
After the first period, Terrier head coach Trent Cassan made a goaltending change, pulling Dawson MacAuley in favour of Warren Shymko.
In the second, the Terriers drew closer outscoring the Millionaires 2-1. Chase Norrish and Riley Paterson scored for Yorkton and Lucas Froese for Melville.
In the third, Tyler Giebel and Keven Cann scored for the Terriers to knot the game 5-5, sending the decision to overtime.
Michael Desjarlais would score the game-winner for the Millionaires at 2:50 of the extra frame with a powerplay goal.
A night earlier, MacAuley had earned a win over the Millionaires in a 3-1 decision at the Farrell Agencies Arena. He faced 30-shots in the win.
MacAuley said the win was gratifying afterhaving allowed 10-goals to the Mills in his first two SJHL games earlier this season.
"It was nice getting a little bit of revenge," he said, adding, "but the team comes first. Getting the two points is big."
For MacAuley, the win marked a continuation of a recent upswing in his performance.
"I've been a bit better since Christmas," he said. He credited some time in Medicine Hat with the Tigers before the SJHL break, where he had some time with that team's goaltending coach. While he was working hard, it was more about getting his head back in the game.
"Coming into Yorkton I wasn't really in the right frame of mind My heart was still in Medicine Hat," he admitted, and then he was tagged with a few early losses and his confidence was shaken.
"The first few games were a bit of a wakeup call."
MacAuley said in time he came to realize "there's a really good team here," adding he is "building some good friendships."
Those friendships have helped centre him and his confidence to perform as a Terrier is now established.
"I think I've started to earn their respect."
That said it has been a different year for the 17-year-old goaltender, one of three netminders vying for Terrier playing time.
"I don't think at the beginning of the year, even after I got here, did I imagine I'd only have nine, or 10 games under my belt," he said.
"But all three of us are pretty close and push each other to be better."
Zak Majkowski gave the Terriers a 1-0 lead after 20-minutes, and the teams played through a scoreless second.
In the third, Desjarlais tied the score, before Brenden Poncelet netted the game-winner mid-way through the frame.
Kyle McLeod added an empty-netter to round out the scoring.
Cassan said the home ice win was a total team effort, suggesting at times the Terriers have had 10-12 guys rolling, while some others might be off in a game, but Friday everyone could feel good about their contribution.
"A lot of guys had an impact on the game in different ways," he said.
The effort was gratifying after the lacklustre performance against Melfort 10-days earlier.
"That wasn't what we wanted to be known as as a team," said Cassan. "We want to work hard every day."
Cassan said the Terriers are focused on playing better at the Farrell Agencies Arena.
"Our home record maybe isn't quite what we want it to be," he said, adding two points against the Mills is a good start to improving that record down the stretch.
The win was especially good coming against Voth who has been a wall in the Mills' net.
"He's played everyone well," said Cassan. " You really have to earn the goals you get behind him."
Last Wednesday
The Nipawin Hawks rolled into the Terrier barn last Wednesday, taking the home team to overtime before a winner was determined.
The Terriers had a one-goal lead after 20-minutes on a powerplay marker by Riley Paterson.
The Hawks used a powerplay goal of their own by Jesse Bernard to tie the game early in the second, only to have Tyler Giebel pop one with the man advantage to once again give the home team a one-goal lead heading to the dressing room.
Stuart Holland pulled the Hawks even with the only goal of the third period.
In the four-on-four overtime, Paterson was back for his second of the night at 1:05 of the extra frame to win the game for the Terriers.
MacAuley had the win the Terrier nets facing 25-shots.
Up next
The Terriers headed out on the road yesterday, with a game scheduled for Nipawin last night (Tuesday). Results were not available at press time.
Tonight (Wednesday), the Terriers are in Flin Flon to face the Bombers.
On Friday, the Kindersley Klippers visit the Terriers at the Farrell Agencies Arena, and are back to play the Terriers Sunday for a rare 6 p.m. start.
