If the Yorkton Harvest can take any consolation from back-to-back losses they endured over the weekend, it's that they won't have to worry about facing a super-hot goalie again this season, unless it happens to be in a playoff game.
Not a whole lot went right for the AAA Midget Yorkton Harvest over the weekend.
Daniel Wapple did everything necessary both Saturday and Sunday for his visiting Saskatoon Blazers. He posted a 6-0 shutout Sunday at the Farrell Agencies Arena. It was his second shutout of the season and upped his personal win-loss record to 6-2 on the season.
Jeff Odgers, head coach of the Yorkton Harvest did not seem a bit surprised following his team's 6-0 loss to Wapple's Blazers on Sunday afternoon.
"We did," he replied when asked if it was just one of those days when you run into a hot goaltender who is on top of his game.
"It was much the same performance he put on at the start of the year," Odgers added.
Wapple has won six of the nine games he has started this season and settled for one tie.
His GAA is a strong 2.38 and carries a save percentage of over 93 per cent. Wapple and his Blazers took both games from the Harvest last weekend.
The opener on Saturday, also went in his team's favour, ending in a 4-2 final. Odgers noted that this game was much closer an affair then Sunday's loss.
He said the power play has been working well. The shots-on-goal were in Yorkton's favour. Odgers insisted that they didn't get the breaks. He added that Yorkton outchanced Saskatoon on Saturday but couldn't get the breaks.
Jake McMillen continued to find the back of the net Saturday, scoring late in the second period to cut the Blazers' lead to 2-1 heading into the first intermission.
Saskatoon restored the two goal lead when Stuart Symenuk scored to make it 3-1 before Yorkton captain Josh Lees cut the Blazer lead to 3-2. Dakota Odgers and Jaden Kreklewich drew the assists.
Yorkton held a 26-22 advantage in shots on goal through the first two periods. Blazer Symenuk scored his hat trick goal with four seconds left in the game to round out a 4-2 Blazers win. Yorkton finished the game going 2-7 on the power play. Saskatoon went 0-6.
Goaltender Teryn Phaneuf stopped 26 of 29 shots in the loss, the final Blazer goal was scored in the empty net, said Odgers.
He said the third period of Sunday's loss was the worst. "The frustration got to us," he said, adding that the team started playing "undisciplined".
The Harvest took two of 10 of 14 penalty calls in the third period, including more of what the league has called 'head contact'.
Odgers said the penalty is being called at all levels of minor hockey in order to try and discourage players from taking dangerous shots at opponents' heads.
"It's the way they call the game," insists Odgers. "We had trouble with it early in the game."
NEXT ACTION
Yorkton now readies for their third match of October with the Tisdale Trojans, who will invade the Farrell Agencies Arena tonight (Wednesday). Puck drop is slated for 8 p.m. As of Sunday evening, the Trojans are seeded in second place in the SMAAAHL with 15 points.
