For the second year in a row the Yorkton Terriers have come up short in their quest for a Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League championship.
This season they dropped game seven of the championship final 3-1 to the LaRonge Icewolves, who in turn captured their second straight crown.
Logan Herauf gave the Icewolves a 1-0 lead 18-seconds into the first, and Dayton Fossum added the game-winner on the powerplay at 2:33 of the first.
Robbie Ciolfi responded late in the first for the Terriers, but it would be the lone Yorkton goal on 41 shots, as LaRonge goaltender Adam Bartko had a big night.
Travis Eggum added an insurance marker early in the second period to round out the scoring. Devin Peters was in the net for Yorkton facing 40 shots.
The loss signal ed the end of Peters' Junior career.
"It was hard. That one stung," said the veteran goaltender. "I really thought we were going to win."
In terms of the two quick goals, Peters admitted "I couldn't believe that really happened."
Peters said the first goal game as a shot ticked off a defenceman's stick changing direction too close in to react. The second came with a man advantage. Down early, Peters said he simply tried to stay focused to hold the team in the game. Terrier head coach Trent Cassan said the team discussed being ready for the drop of the puck.
"We talked about it. We knew going in the first 10 minutes were going to be very important," he said. Asked about the two early goals and how they happened Cassan said that the 'how' was not important at this point.
"In a Game 7, it doesn't matter how goals go in," he said. While in a hole early, Yorkton rallied and had chances.
"They got some bounces. Some pucks, I don't know how they didn't go in," said Cassan.
While the Terriers lost, Cassan said the team did the organization proud.
"We talk about guys leaving it all on the ice and our guys did," he said.LaRonge advanced to the ANAVET Cup against the Portage la Prairie Terriers, champions of the Manitoba Junior Hockey League.
Portage led that series 2-0 at press time.
Games three, four and five are scheduled for LaRonge, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday this week. With the season over the Terriers graduate eight regulars leaving the team, including Peters.
"I just wish I could be back for one more year," he said Saturday at the Terrier awards banquet (see related story this issue.)
A three-year Terrier, who arrived as a walk-on, Peters said he never dreamed he'd have the career he did.
"I never thought any of this would happen I was just lucky to be here," he said, "The best thing I've done is leave Selkirk (MB.) and come play in Yorkton."
With eight veterans gone it will be up to Terrier brass to rebuild for fall.
Cassan said the nucleus is in place to build around. He said when you look at the players eligible to return a number have "played in two league finals and have 35 playoff games," under their belt. It will help with the re-tooling that players such as Jeremy Johnson, Keven Cann, John Odgers and Brady and Chase Norrish all saw action as affiliated players.
"We try and do that every year," said Cassan.
