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SJHL games goes to shoot-out at Westland Insurance Arena

Mustangs visit Terriers
Terr fri 1
Terrier JD Hall on a shoot-out attempt.
YORKTON - The Yorkton Terriers hosted Melfort in Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League action at the Westland Insurance Arena tonight (Saturday).

The teams played through a scoreless opening period.

In the second period the goals started early and often.

Parker Jasper was first to get his name on the game sheet giving Yorkton a 1-0 lead with an unassisted powerplay goal 3:01 into the frame.

It took only 1:43 for Clay Sleeva to make it 2-0, again with a powerplay goal. It came at 4:34.

The Mustangs finally got on the board at 5:09 on a goal from Marco Lopez.

Lopez was back for his second of the contest at 12:45 to tie the game 2-2.

The teams went back to all defence in the third period with neither team managing a goal.

So after regulation time, where neither team managed 20-shots, the team went to overtime.

Although both teams had powerplay time in the extra frame, again no one scored.

In the shoot-out it took eight shooters before the Mustangs completed a come-from-behind win by a 3-2 score.

James Venne was in net for Melfort in the win, while Kael DePape took the loss in the Terrier net.

Terrier head coach Mat Hehr said the team played well for all but a few minutes after going up 2-0 and the Mustangs used the lapse to tie the contest.

“It’s definitely disappointing to blow a 2-0 lead,” he said. “We changed the way we were playing and they capitalized.”

The second Melfort goal was more disappointing.

“We were a bit soft (in front of the net) and they were able to tie it up,” said Hehr.

But, overall Hehr was satisfied with a game where the Terriers limited the Mustang chances for the most part. He said going into the game the Mustangs and Terriers were one-two in shots against, and that showed in Saturday’s encounter.

“Both teams worked extremely hard and really well defensively,” he said.

While Hehr would like to see the Terriers take a step offensively scoring a bit more often, two powerplay goals against the Mustangs was a good sign, he said.

Still it was a solid week at home for the Terriers with a 2-1 win Friday and shoot-out loss Tuesday, to go along with the loss to Melfort.

“We took four out of six points,” said Hehr, adding again “we probably deserved two points tonight ... But, at least we’re getting points.”

Hehr noted earlier in season they weren’t getting points at all in a lot of games.

“We would just lose one goal games. We weren’t finding a way to get the extra point,” he said.

The key to getting more defence may come from the Terriers size up front, which Hehr said can be a difference in front of the opponents’ net.

Next action for the Terriers will see the team head to Estevan Tuesday, then hosting LaRonge Friday, with Nipawin in Yorkton Saturday.aa