The first ever representative from the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League in the Western Canada Cup will be the Yorkton Terriers.
The Terriers took control of the series with a triple overtime win in game five in Humboldt Saturday and the next day they scored with 28 seconds left to earn the 4-2 series win and the Canalta Cup on home ice.
Yorkton jumped out to a 3-0 lead in game six only to have that lead evaporate and the Broncos tie the game at 3-3. With 28 seconds left Devon McMullen's wrist shot went in off of teammate Jeremy Johnson, who also scored the game-five overtime-winner.
Five of the six games in the series were one-goal games, with two overtime results as well.
The win was the first for the Sherwood Conference since the 2005-06 season, which was also the last time the Terriers won the championship.
Two Terriers were named the co-MVPs of the playoffs, as goaltender Dawson MacAuley and defenceman Brady Norrish earned the award.
Yorkton now prepares for the inaugural Western Canada Cup in Nanaimo, B.C. starting April 27. This is the first time there will be no Anavet Cup and playoff with the Manitoba Junior Hockey League to advance to the RBC Cup. The top two teams from the five-team tournament featuring one representative from each the SJHL, MJHL, Alberta Junior Hockey League, British Columbia Hockey League and the host team will advance to the RBC Cup in Summerside, P.E.I.
While the SJHL's season wrapped up a league alumni's season continued. Former Notre Dame Hound and 2008-09 SJHL MVP Rylan Schwartz made his American Hockey League debut. Schwartz played with the Colorado College Tigers for the previous four seasons and recently signed a two-year entry level contract with the San Jose Sharks. Schwartz played his first game with the Sharks' affiliate Worchester in the AHL Tuesday and recorded an assist in his debut.
Schwartz's brother, also a former Notre Dame Hound, Jaden plays with the St. Louis Blues.
