With the logjam for the bottom half of the SMAAAHL's playoff spots creating high intensity meetings every week, the Harvest were spared no rest as they headed to Moose Jaw to take on the Generals in two crucial afternoon meetings on the weekend.
After a heartbreaking 5-4 loss to the Argos on Wednesday night in Wilcox saw the Harvest miss an opportunity to jump to seventh in the standings, the Yorkton boys needed to stand ground and take points on the road against the Generals in order to hold on to the final playoff spot they took from the Swift Current Legionnaires the weekend before.
The loss on Wednesday night to the Argos came after a Chase McKersie handling the puck penalty that led to a powerplay goal for the Argos with just under five minutes to go in the third period, showing just how close the teams battling for playoff positions are.
A short memory was needed as the sixth place Generals were looking to create some separation from the Harvest, Argos, and Saskatoon Blazers with two home wins over the Harvest. However a similar script to the Harvest's previous weekend serious with Swift Current unfolded as the once cellar dwelling Harvest rose to the occasion once again and proved that they are a much different team than they were in September and October, this time on the road.
Saturday's game saw very little scoring as Cohen Yano took the lead for the Generals in the second period before Lynnden Pastachak answered back for the Terriers on an assist from Logan Herchak in the only scoring of the game for both teams in a one-one tie. Pastachak played for the Estevan Bruins on Friday night and showed no signs that his recent hot play for the Harvest would slow down with the reward of some of his first SJHL action.
Spencer Bombior was undoubtedly the player of the game for the Harvest on Saturday as he made 28 saves in goal for the Harvest in what was a tightly contested game on defense and in goal for both teams.
Bombior's stellar performance in net on Saturday earned him another start on Sunday as the script was flipped with the Harvest putting more pressure on the Generals goalie in the second game of the weekend set. Both teams knew the importance of the two points on the line and it showed on the ice as a back and forth affair was on display.
A 11-6 first period shot advantage for the Harvest proved meaningless as Generals goalie Grant Naherniak and Bombior kept the game scoreless heading into the first intermission.
Landon Nichol came up big in the second frame with two unanswered goals for the Harvest. Assists from Pastachak, McKersie and two from Jaden Kreklewich helped Nichol give the Harvest a 2-0 lead midway through the second frame and huge momentum going into the final half of the game.
Moose Jaw stole that momentum back at the end of the second as Donovan Neuls scored off a Ben Dupperault assist with just 1:31 left to set up a down to the wire third period with the valuable extra point on the line.
Korwin Shewchuk took a goaltender interference penalty that led to a Dupperault goal with 13:20 left to tie things up, putting pressure on the Harvest who already let a point slip away in Notre Dame earlier in the week with an untimely penalty.
The game stayed level until Eric Meyer game through with the game winning goal for the Harvest off a McKersie assist to give them a big road win and three of the four points on the weekend, keeping pace with the Blazers and Argos in the tight race between the three teams to improve their playoff odds.
The win also put the Harvest up further on the Legionnaires, giving them some breathing room as they look to climb up the standings.
A big weekend at the FAA is in store for the Harvest as they host one of the league's top teams in the Prince Albert Mintos in Saturday/Sunday action. Points will need to be found and it won't be an easy task as the Mintos have only lost two games in regulation all season compiling an impressive 16 wins, four ties, and two loss record in their first 22 games of the season.
Yorkton has shown a turnaround as of late, but has yet to show that they can beat one of the league's best teams, and the Mintos are likely to be the favorites for the SMAAHL title with the Regina Pat Canadians at the end of the season, making this an important weekend for the Harvest to show that even though they are scraping for points to stay in the playoff hunt that they are every bit as skilled as the league's top teams.
Pre Christmas action will be wrapped up with a rematch with the Notre Dame Argos in Wilcox once again on the 18th before the Harvest take a break until January.
Whether that game before Christmas in Wilcox is to go up in the standings or to not lose their playoff position to Swift Current will be determined this weekend. If the Harvest can hold ground with the second place Mintos, it will go a long way into continuing to build the momentum they have been gaining in November and this early December stretch, it can all be erased this weekend if the Harvest can't match a step up in talent.
