Normally losing three of your top scorers from an SJHL title winning team would be a sign that a rebuild is coming the following season. That is not the case for the 2013-14 Yorkton Terriers, who might actually manage to be better in their season defending the Canalta Cup with the deepest team in the SJHL bringing the majority of the key parts of their championship team back to the Farrell Agencies Arena for another year.
That doesn't mean that the Terriers won't be saying goodbye to some big talents. Their top three regular season scorers. Nathan Murray (42 points), Jeremy Johnson (28 goals, 41 points) and Patrick Martens (23 goals, 41 points) all graduate, with Johnson being the biggest loss as he was the catalyst for the title clinching goals in triple overtime of Game Five and Game Six in last year's final. WHL veteran blueliners Austin Bourhis and John Neibrandt will be the two departures from the blueline as the pair graduated and signed with the University of Regina Cougars.
Throw in the loss of Canalta Cup Co-MVP Dawson McCauley between the pipes and you could write the Terriers off in other situations, but this is not an ordinary team. With the depth of a team assembled by head coach Trent Cassan and general manager Don Chesney building a squad that they thought would be on schedule to win in 2013-14 arriving one year ahead of schedule last season, the Terriers are loaded with the best team in the SJHL on paper heading into this weekend's season opener.
Tayler Thompson, Tyler Giebel, and Curtis Oliver all return as 20 year olds alongside the return of Kailum Gervais who was reassigned from the WHL's Red Deer Rebels after a week with the team. Those four will be bookended by as many as three lines worth of returning forwards (if not more) this season.
A potential X-Factor at forward is the 94 born Dylan Johnson, the brother of Jeremy saw stretches where he was a frequent healthy scratch last season, but when he was put into the lineup he showed the same instinct for goals that his older brother has. A bigger body presence than Jeremy, Dylan can be counted on to provide some timely goals in front of the net while replacing Murray as the Terriers top power forward.
Where the Terriers are the deepest has to be on the blueline where they return three speedy offensive defensemen with NCAA D-I prospects. Captain Devon McMullen returns for his final season along side the Norrish twins Brady and Chase. The do it all defensemen may not big in stature, but they have shown that they have even more speed to show off in the preseason and will once again charge the Terriers attack with their speed and offensive instincts from the blueline. Dylan Baer will also return for an increased role as will Dallas Rossiter and Nick Sandy, two players who led the Terriers in healthy scratches last year that will be breakout players this season.
Goaltending might be the biggest question mark with the loss of MaCauley, who appears to be on track to start for the Regina Pats this season. Losing a 6 5' goaltender who outdueled 20 year olds and now NCAA D-I goalies Matt Hrynkiw and Alex Wakaluk during the Terriers final two playoff series is a huge loss, but Trent Cassan has the luxury of knowing that Kale Thomson was his starter before MacAuley took the job last season. If Thomson can be consistent during his 20 year old season he will be one of the league's top goalies.
With teams across the league losing so many key players, the Terriers are the clear favorites. Anything can happen over the course of a long season, especially in Junior A hockey where WHL teams can take, or give top talent back at any course of the season things can change quickly. One thing is for certain though, the deepest team in the SJHL will once again have the depth that made them so dangerous during their run to last year's Canalta Cup.
If their returning players stay on the curve and improve even slightly from their 2012-13 form, expect the Yorkton Terriers to be back at the Western Canada Cup and contending for their first appearance in the Royal Bank Cup in nearly a decade.
Rest of the SJHL Preview:
Battlefords North Stars: Might not have been one of the most impressive teams in 2013, but they get most of their leading scorers and blueliners back as well as their starting goaltender, their rebuild should pay off in 2013/14.
Flin Flon Bombers: Best goalie in the league in Devin Buffalo and the electric scoring Brett Boehm will have Flin Flon thinking title.
Humboldt Broncos: Last year's North champs will be thinner, but you can't count them out.
Kindersley Klippers: Will be better than last year's version, how much better is debateable.
Melfort Mustangs: A playoff team last year, expect Melfort to be back in the postseason.
Nipawin Hawks: A good fanbase at The Cage and the scoring of Tad Kozun will keep the Hawks competitive.
Estevan Bruins: A new coach and a new atmosphere should do the Bruins good. Look out for former Harvest top scorer Lynnden Pastachak as abreakout rookie.
La Ronge Ice Wolves: After a good run of titles, La Ronge is still rebuilding with a new coach.
Weyburn Red Wings: The Dwight McMillan era is over in Weyburn, but that only means more rebuilding.
Notre Dame Hounds: Losing a handful of players in training camp makes things worse for a team that was all in to win last year.
Melville Millionaires: Went all in on going for the SJHL title for the past two seasons so don't expect the Highway 10 battle to be very competitive this year as the Millionaires go young to retool in 2013/14.
