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Terriers take care of Klippers

For the second straight Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League series the Yorkton Terriers have swept their opponents from the playoffs.


For the second straight Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League series the Yorkton Terriers have swept their opponents from the playoffs.

This time the four-games-to-none win over Kindersley earned Yorkton its second straight Sherwood Conference crown, and a berth in the league championship final. Terrier head coach Trent Cassan said "people see the scores," in the series and might think it was an easy series, but he sees it differently.

"I think the guys have earned it, have hard to work hard. To win convincingly you've worked hard for 60-minutes. They've been rewarded for their hard work and determination.

"You have to give yourself some credit. You've worked hard and earned some things," he said.

The Terriers will now face LaRonge in the league championship in a repeat of last season's final which the Icewolves won in six-games. LaRonge earned their chance to defend their 2009-10 crown eliminating Melfort in five-games.

The Terriers eliminated the Klippers Wednesday with a 3-2 win in Kindersley in game four of the best-of-seven.

As was the case in every game of the series the Terriers led after 20-minutes, this time 2-0 on goals by Riley Paterson and Justin Buzzeo.

Unlike the first three games of the series where the Terriers rolled up 21 goals, the Klippers kept the deciding game of the series close.

Taylor Wasden and Andrew Dommett both scored before the midway point of the second to tie the game for the Klippers, before Buzzeo pumped in the eventual game winner at 15:19 of the frame.

In the third the Terriers out shot Kindersley 20-7 but both Sean Cahill in the Kindersley net and Devin Peters in the Yorkton goal were up to the task and kept the game at 3-2.

Cassan said winning the series in a close game was actually a good thing in his mind.

"I think it was good. It was good to be close because we had to compete right 'til the end," he said.
Cassan said he expected the Klippers to put up a fight in the game in spite of being beaten 21-2 in the previous three games, and it was.

"They hit a post right at the end of the game," he reminded.

Game 3 of the series was played Tuesday in Kindersley. It was a game in which the Terriers continued to roll on both offence and defence.

Offensively the Terriers would score seven for the third straight game against the Klippers.

The Terriers enjoyed period leads of 2-0, 6-0 and 7-0 as Justin Buzzeo had a hat trick performance, while Clarke Breitkreuz added a pair and Robbie Ciolfi, and Jeremy Boyer potted singles.

The offensive barrage sent Kindersley starting netminder Justin McDonald to the bench mid way through the second period after allowing four goals in 17 shots. Sean Cahill would go the rest of the way, giving up three on 16 shots.

For the Terriers Devin Peters had his second straight shut-out turning away 32-shots.

"We had confidence we could win on the road certainly," said Cassan, adding "but the result in Game 3 was not what people expected."

Cassan said getting out in front early was a big plus, adding the Terriers "got good goaltending," when needed.

The fast start was something the Terriers managed in every game of the series.

"I think our first periods were big. We came out with a one, or two goal lead every game," said the Terrier coach. "It shows our guys are really ready to go right from the puck drop."

The early leads set a tone to the games.
"Confidence and momentum in hockey are quite a thing," said Cassan. "To have them on your side, it's quite an advantage."