Following a convincing South Final sweep over the Prairie Storm of Balgonie in the SBAAHL Division Finals the Yorkton Bantam AA UCT Terriers couldn't be blamed for feeling confident heading into the SBAAHL Championship series with the North champion North East Wolfpack.
After all the Terriers would be considered to be solid favourites over the Wolfpack as the Terriers finished with eight more wins during the regular season. Even more confidence boosting for the Terriers was their home ice advantage for the opening and potential final game of the three game series with the Wolfpack as the Terriers have yet to lose at the Farrell Agencies Arena, using the big ice to their advantage during every game played at the home of the SJHL's Terriers.
Still the series between the Wolfpack and Terriers couldn't be chalked up as an automatic win as the Wolfpack going into Game One had built quite the playoff reputation for themselves during an underdog run from third place in the division to a spot in the SBAAHL Championship.
Finishing four points out of second and nine points out of first, the Wolfpack would knock out Prince Albert and Sask Valley to take out the two top seeds in the playoffs and earn their chance to bring the provincial Bantam AA title to Melfort.
Once the puck was dropped Yorkton would be quick to show that they weren't going to take anyone lightly in a final series as they came out with an expected strong effort in front of a hometown crowd that came out to watch the big game.
As he has all playoffs it would be Carson Welke who would start the Terriers off on the right foot as the Langenburg product would score on the powerplay to give the hosts first blood in the series.
Welke wouldn't be done there as he would score his second just minutes later on an assist from his brother McKenzie who would find his brother on both goals to give the team a 2-0 lead. Not done there the Terriers would somehow find one more before the end of the period as Keenan Taphorn would score with 1:21 left to cap off a barrage if Yorkton offensive fireworks to give them a commanding 3-0 lead after the first period over the shellshocked Wolfpack.
In the second period the Terriers would extend their lead once again, this time on an assists from Carson Welke who would set up Luke Schappert for huis first goal of the series to make it 4-0 Yorkton.
The Wolfpack would pull one back in the second period off a goal from Beau Stevenson, but the line of the Welke brothers and Schappert would strike once again with the Welke's assisting Schappert for the fifth goal scored by the "Langenburg Line" on the night to head into the final period up 5-1.
In the final twenty minutes the Terriers would pump the brakes, taking the life out of the game and keeping the puck in the Wolfpack zone not taking any chances after the Prairie Storm scored two quick goals in the third period in Game Two of the South Final. The strategy would pay off as the Terriers would be the team creating chances up four goals, not allowing the Wolfpack to generate any momentum in what was a frustrating trip to Yorkton for the Melfort team in a dominating Game One performance that Terriers head coach Graham Garrett had nothing to say about but praise for his team.
"We have been locked in since the playoffs as a team and keep getting better each time we step onto the ice which is amazing considering that it is playoff time," says Garrett who also explained that after beating the Prairie Storm they felt that they would have a good chance to come out and make a statement in the league final.
"The Wolfpack are a good hockey team, but after beating one of the teams that really challenged us in the season in the Storm we felt that we would have a good chance to come out and show we are playing a notch above the pack right now," says Garrett.
Garrett also credited the players physical will and determination to win as a huge factor in the win. "Teams can skate with us because there are very talented teams in this league, but our guys seem to have that little bit extra once players start to wear down which is the benefit of having a deep and talented team like we have the benefit of having this season so far."
One of the main contributors to that depth is the Welke line of Carson-McKenzie and Luke Schappert who are also dubbed the "Langenburg Line" and have been the dominant line pairing for the Terriers during the playoffs accounting on all five of the goals in Game One. Garrett pointed out that the Welke's success comes despite being gameplanned for every night making it that much more impressive. "Teams try to match their defensive line on the Welke's every time we play and so far nobody can stop them which speaks to their talent as well as how much they want it which is very impressive."
Yorkton will next travel to Melfort for a potentially deciding Game Two in the best of three series. With the season on the line and a trip to a visiting barn next on the agenda, Garrett knows that he will have to prepare his players for an inspired effort from the Wolfpack who are now on the brink.
"We have played in enough elimination games by now to know what is coming, but in a final there will be potentially even more being laid out on the line so hopefully as coaches and players we will be prepared for whatever the Wolfpack throw at us on Thursday night in Melfort."
