The Yorkton Terriers lost a pair of games on the week, but are still holding on to a last place tie in the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League’s Viterra Division.
The Terriers record sits at 9-18-0-1 for 19-points, the same as Melville. The two teams sit 10 back of Estevan with 29 points and Weyburn who leads the Division with 43-points.
Thursday the Terriers got off to the start a struggling team needs as Dexter Robinson gave the team a 1-0 lead against the visiting La Ronge Ice Wolves.
Cole Porter would even the score at 11:10 of the first, a tie which would hold through the remainder of the frame.
In the second Carson Welke would strike on the Yorkton powerplay at 4:36 to give the home team its second lead of the contest.
Matthew Painchaud would respond with a man advantage goal for the Hawks at 15:07, and the teams would again head to the dressing rooms after a period deadlocked.
The game would remain tied until 17:14 of the third when Porter would be back to score the eventual game-winner for the visitors, a powerplay marker.
Matt Kustra faced 33-shots in the loss for Yorkton, while Dakota Kenyon had the win for La Ronge facing 29.
The loss left Terrier head coach Trent Cassan frustrated, leaving him talking to his players for an extended period of time after the game.
“I thought mentally we weren’t in the game,” he said. “… I didn’t like the feel on the bench. There were points there for the taking … That was the frustrating aspect.”
And in some key aspects of the game the Terriers were not playing well.
“Our powerplay was very predictable,” said Cassan.
It came down to wanting the game more, said Cassan, who added the Terriers have to be the hardest working team every night.
“We can’t be a pretty team right now,” he said.
Cassan said as head coach he has to get his team working harder, and helping them to find ways to win.
“That comes from me,” he said.
That process will mean helping the veterans do more, adding as veterans “I know they can do it.” As it stands they are maybe trying too hard, to do too much. In that respect Cassan said it will be his job to simplify things moving forward.
Road loss
Things did not get better for the Terriers Friday on the road in spite of out-shooting the host Broncos 30-23.
Shane Sherban did give the Terriers an early 1-0 lead, scoring a powerplay marker 4:47 into the contest.
But a man advantage marker by Connor Swystun at 9:52 sent the teams to the dressing rooms deadlocked 1-1 throughout 20-minutes.
Josh Roberts made good on a penalty shot 3:08 into the second to give the Broncos an edge, one Trevor Posch would add to at 17:08.
Headed to the third down 3-1 Yorkton, it got worse at 13:30 as Jarrett Fontaine made it 4-1.
But the Terriers did fight back as Corwin Stevely scored at 14:13, and Paul Savage added a powerplay marker at 17:09, but that would be it, as Humboldt held on for a 4-3 win.
Jakob Severson took the loss facing 23-shots in the Terrier net, while Ryan LaRichelle picked up the win for the Broncos.
Up next
Friday the Terriers start a northern road swing in Flin Flon, then stop Saturday in Nipawin to face the local Hawks.
Sunday Yorkton will face-off against the Mustangs in Melfort.
