The Yorkton Terriers had a huge week in the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League.
To start with the Terriers unveiled their trade deadline additions, including Jeremy Boyer and Justin Buzzeo, who have lined up with Clarke Breitkreuz to give the Terriers a 'Killer B's' line.
Buzzeo had eight points for the Terriers, Boyer seven and Breitkreuz six, in the four game-span.
The trio have combined for 21 points, including seven goals in the four games they have played together so far.
Boyer said the trade away from Humboldt was not unexpected, and ending up in Yorkton was a bonus.
"For sure me and Buzz (Buzzeo) heard the news and we were excited," he said.
Boyer said it was a case of coming to a team with "plans to go far this year," and as a pair of 20-year-olds that is an important thing since it's their last shot at a Junior title.
Buzzeo said he knew "Dean (Humboldt coach Dean Brockman) was in a hard position," choosing to trade away his veterans to build for next season when the Broncos host the Royal Bank Cup. He too said ending up in Yorkton was seen as a positive thing.
"It's a great opportunity here I'm happy to be here."
Buzzeo said when he looks around the Terrier dressing room he sees a team with the talent to go a long way in the playoffs.
"We have all the tools. We just have to work hard and make it happen," he said.
Both Boyer and Buzzeo said they have settled into the Terrier line-up fairly smoothly, especially being lined up with the talented Breitkreuz.
"We're jelling pretty good," said Boyer, who added it helps that he and Buzzeo have played with each other. "We're playing really good moving the puck around."
Boyer said the trio are using their collective speed to their advantage.
"When we keep our feet moving we're hard to handle out there," he said. He added he had always been told by everyone involved in the game that a key to hockey is to keep your feet moving "or you'll be invisible out there." His Father went as far as to suggest if you stop skating in hockey "you might as well be public skating."
"We can get greasy when we have to, but we try to get open every chance we can," said Boyer.Buzzeo said Breitkreuz is a good fit for the Bronco pair.
"He's a great player, a skilled guy," he said.
Buzzeo said "it took a couple of games" to feel comfortable, but added "that's how it's going to be when you come to a new team."
Beyond unveiling the new line and breaking a losing streak the Terriers also managed to find the first wins of 2011, winning a pair on home ice, to end a seven-game losing streak.
And, most importantly, the Terriers have stayed atop the SJHL's Sherwood Conference with a record of 26-13-2-4 for 58 points.
Kindersley are six points back, with 52, and a game in-hand. Weyburn sits third with 50 points, Estevan 45, Melville 38 and Notre Dame with 32.
The Terriers put an end to their seven-game losing streak in fine style Friday, posting a 4-0 shut-out over Flin Flon who were at the Farrell Agencies Arena for a pair of games.
The shut-out was the first on home ice for local area goaltender Warren Shymko who faced 30 Bomber shots.
After a scoreless first period the Terriers scored twice in the second, and added two in the third for the win.
Buzzeo, Boyer, Blaine Tendler, Kyle McLeod scored for the Terriers.
A night later the Terriers made it two straight over the Bombers taking a 5-2 win on home ice.
The Terriers scored twice in the first, then watched the Bombers tie the game with a pair in the first five-minutes of the second.
Terrier coach Trent Cassan called a time-out after Flin Flon's tying goal, and it worked, as the Terriers pumped three unanswered goals in the rest of the second for the 5-2 win.
Boyer led the way for the Terriers scoring a pair. Robbie Ciolfi, Zak Majkowski and Craig Eisenhut added singles.
Shymko was back in the Terrier net for the win, facing 32-shots.
Shymko said the two games on home ice were big for him.
"I finally got my chance to go back-to-back," he said following Saturday's game.
The shut out Friday, Shymko's second as a Terrier was also a special one.
"It was good to get it at home," he said, adding it was great to get it in front of friends and family at home.
Shymko said the starts were "huge" for him. He said he knows teammate Devin Peters as a veteran 20-year-old is the main man for the Terriers, but getting three straight starts was a "chance to show what I can do."
While Shymko allowed only two goals in two games against the Bombers, he said it was not just his effort. He said his defence played a major role in the effort.
"It was all on my 'D'," he said.
Shymko said his defence did a good job of keeping Bomber shooters to the outside, giving him a good chance to see the shots and make the stops.
As for the two quick goals he gave up Saturday, Shymko admitted the first was his fault.
"It was a bad rebound by me," he said, adding the goal gave the Bombers a boost, which they turned into a second marker.
Shymko said the time-out called by Cassan was big in getting the Terriers back on track.
"He gave us a little yell," he said, adding that swung the momentum back their way.
Terrier head coach Trent Cassan said he was happy to see first wins of the year.
"Certainly it was nice to get the first couple of the year," he said, noting the season is long with a range of ups and downs. "We were in a bit of a down time."
Cassan said the ultimate challenge for a team is being consistent, adding looking over a season there are games a team wins they perhaps shouldn't have, and nights where solid play doesn't get the job done.
"Some nights we won we probably weren't playing as well as we'd have liked to," he said, "then played well in others we didn't win."
As for getting big wins from Shymko, Cassan said it doesn't change who he sees as the team's top netminder, but it does go a long way to giving the team confidence in both.
"It just gives the guys confidence in both guys any night they're in net they give us a very good chance to win," he said.
Shoot-out lossThe Terriers went into Estevan last Wednesday on a six-game skid, and game within a shoot-out goal of righting the ship, finally succumbing after being out-shot 45-27.
Estevan took a 1-0 lead to the dressing room after 20-minutes on a Mark Cross.
The Terriers responded with a pair of unanswered goals in the second period by Buzzeo and Breitkreuz.
Lucas Stubel and Matt Dochylo gave the Bruins a 3-2 lead before the mid way point of the third, but a goal by Terrier Brent Strubel would knot the game and force overtime.
The five-minute, four-on-four overtime proved nothing, as the Terriers managed only one shot and the Bruins five.
In the shoot-out the Terriers were stonewalled by Bruin goalie Shea Cooper., while Jonathan Ceci solved Shymko in the Terrier net for the win.
Up nextThe Terriers have two home games this week, including a game scheduled for last night (Tuesday) when Melfort was scheduled to visit the Farrell Agencies Arena. Game results were unavailable at press time.
Notre Dame is in the city for a rare Sunday encounter, with an early start time of 6 p.m.
The Terriers then head on the road to play Kindersley next Tuesday, and Battlefords Wednesday.
