A much slower week of action was given to the Harvest by the SMAAAHL schedule makers as they were given just one game on the week as they hosted the Moose Jaw Generals in Wednesday night action at the FAA. Holding onto seventh position and sitting four points out of fifth and sixth place with just twelve games left, the Harvest were looking for a huge two points against a Moose Jaw team that handled the Harvest quite easily in a January 6 meeting at the FAA winning 3-0.
Any chance for another Generals shutout was quickly erased as Donovon Lumb scored on the first shot of the game, beating Grant Neherniak and giving the Harvest a 1-0 lead just three minutes in. Eric Meyer's interference penalty led to a Ben Dupperault goal just six minutes into the powerplay for the Generals as Dupperault continued his strong play against the Harvest from the previous meeting. Donovan Neuls added an unassisted goal for the Generals with four minutes left in the period before Lynnden Pastachak scored his 23rd goal of the season with a minute left in the period to send both teams to the dressing room tied 2-2 after one.
Chase McKersie provided the game's turning point for the Harvest, giving an offensive explosion to start the second period. Two goals off of assists from Adam Niebrandt and Korwin Shewchuk gave the Harvest a 4-2 lead and drew him the praise of head coach Jeff Odgers. "McKersie below the hashmarks is such a weapon, he has a great shot and is strong on his skates and is learning what he can and can't do in this league and has three goals in the last few games and is a guy we can really count on and use for a scoring punch" said Odgers. Rhett Gardner scored an unassisted shorthanded goal for the Generals off a misplayed pass by Carson Bogdan to make it 4-3, but recent call up Koal Roberts continued his hot play with his second goal in two games to stop the Generals momentum and give the Harvest the 5-3 lead. Roberts also was shown kind words by Odgers post game as the forward who was cut at the beginning of the year has came on an improved his game, "He was one of the players we let go at camp that was really tough to send back, but he has really worked hard to get back here and he knows his role on the wing and it is always special when you get to see a guy who has worked hard come out strong and he has improved a ton since training camp" said Odgers.
Third period hockey saw the Harvest trying to hold on to their two goal lead and secure their fourth win in a row.
Rykr Cole made it a 5-4 score with a goal off an assist from Ty Symenuk to make things interesting with 14:03 left in the third period. A Generals comeback was however not in the cards as Eric Meyer out the dagger in Moose Jaw's hearts with his 12th of the season to score the final goal of the game and secure the 6-4 win for the Harvest.
The playoff picture is now a little more clear with eleven games left. The Saskatoon Blazers and Notre Dame Argos sit five and seven points behind the Harvest with just two and one games at hand respectively with Yorkton now focusing on chasing sixth and fifth place in the final stretch in an attempt to avoid the Prince Albert Mintos for as long as possible come playoff time. With Battlefords and Tisdale sitting just four points above the streaking Harvest, that scenario is a legit possibility provided they carry their impressive second half record into the final eleven games.
A run past fifth is likely not in the cards as Regina, Moose Jaw, and the Saskatoon Contacts all sit in the 2-4 spots with 43/42 points respectively giving the Harvest too big of a gap to overcome with 34 points on their own. The best possible matchup in the first round for the Harvest in extremely early discussion would likely be the Generals as the Harvest are a sparkling 2-1-1 against them since December and realistically could see them in the 4/5 or 3/6 matchup in the opening round come late February.
Two big tests for how playoff ready the Harvest are come this week as the Harvest host the Regina Pat Canadians before heading on the road to face the Saskatoon Contacts on Saturday night.
Both the Contacts and Canadians are battling to move out of the pack for second place in the SMAAAHL and will be giving the Harvest all they can handle.
The Harvest beat the Contacts in their last meeting in Saskatoon just two weekends ago and will be looking to replicate that 6-3 performance again. While the Pat Canadians haven't seen Yorkton since way back in November where they beat the Harvest in Regina 3-2 in overtime after the Harvest blew a 2-1 lead late.
