For the first time in history, the Yorkton Kinsmen Midget AA Terriers are provincial champions.
The Kinsmen Terriers faced the Saskatoon Riverkings in a best-of-three series. Yorkton took the first game, Saskatoon took the second, so game three was for it all.
The final was held in Yorkton at the Farrell Agencies Arena on Sunday, Apr. 9.
Much like the series, the final game was a close one. Though the final score read 4-1, it really came down to the final minute of play.
Yorkton scored the first and only goal in the first period. In the second, Saskatoon would take advantage of a powerplay and tied the game.
It all came down to the third period.
Yorkton’s captain Reid Arnold scored what would be the game winning goal roughly half way through the third.
But the Riverkings kept the pressure on hard, just missing on a few different scoring chances after that.
In the last minute, Saskatoon pulled their goalie, which is when Yorkton scored their final two goals – on the empty net.
The Kinsmen Terriers had a strong season, finishing in first place in their league – the South Saskatchewan Hockey Legue – and now in first place in the province.
“We just stuck to what our game plan was, and we didn’t deviate,” said Kinsmen Terriers’ head coach Chris Newans after the final game.
“There was probably a six minute span of time in the second period where they kind of pinned us in, but our goaltending held us in it and we stuck to the systems.”
Dakota Berezowski recorded the win in goal for the Kinsmen Terriers.
Newans said that, considering how important this final game was for his team, they didn’t show much nervousness.
“They were pretty loose, actually. A lot of these kids have won before, and we’ve played a lot of games this year where we’ve been pretty tight,” said Newans. He said that seemed to prepare the team for this final push.
Throughout the year, the Kinsmen Terriers have played with a ‘team first’ mentality, both on and off the ice. Newans said he thinks that’s what helped them lock in the provincial title.
“Team first concept, right from the very first game of the year. I think that the payoff is here,” said Newans.
That concept showed after the final whistle, as the team and their coaches celebrated together on the ice.
The team might look much the same next year. As of now, only five players from the roster won’t be returning - three players who are aging out of the midget division, and two players who have already committed to the Yorkton RawTec Maulers.
