In what was a very busy week in the SJHL with the WHL and SJHL Trade Deadline creating rumors and player movement around the league, the Terriers embarked on a trip to the far north of La Ronge and Nipawin for Friday/Saturday dates with the Ice Wolves and Hawks.
Friday's meeting with the Ice Wolves would feature the storyline of two Yorkton born brothers providing the Terrier offense as younger brother Dylan and older brother Jeremy Johnson scored the Terriers first two goals of the game. Dylan's fourth of the season gave the Terriers a one goal lead 6:04 into the first period before Brett McNevin tied things up for the Ice Wolves and Jeremy's goal gave the Terriers a 2-1 lead early in the second. That lead was also shortlived as Spencer Brennan's powerplay goal tied things at two's heading into the third and final period.
In the third La Ronge took its first lead of the game as McNevin struck again with his second goal and third point of the game to give the Ice Wolves a 3-2 lead with just seven minutes left to play. But as seen so many times this season, the Terriers found some late magic as Zak Majkowski scored with 1:36 left in the third period off assists from Chase Norrish and Tayler Thompson to send the game into overtime.
In overtime there was no magic to be found on the road for the Terriers as Sebastien Beauregard's OT winner gave the Ice Wolves a huge home win over the league best Terriers, who had to settle for a single point in La Ronge before heading to Nipawin to face the Hawks.
Dawson Macauley was given the start in goal after Kale Thomson made 35 saves in the loss to La Ronge and earned himself a night off after a string of starts in goal. Kalium Gervais would open up the scoring as his eighth of the season with assists from Brady Norrish and Derek Falloon gave the Terriers a 1-0 lead heading into the second period.
Sadly it was all downhill from there for the Terriers as Nipawin scored four unanswered goals to earn themselves the 4-1 victory and hand the Terriers two losses in a row to end their swing through the north. Two losses from the Terriers still kept them in first place in the Sherwood Division and the SJHL, but allowed Melville to catch up in the Sherwood as well as the Broncos in the Bauer Division as the Terriers breathing room for home ice advantage throughout the playoffs diminished over the weekend with both teams hot on the heels of the Terriers after winning streaks.
The SJHL trade deadline saw the Broncos stock up on talent with the addition of Prince George Cougar and former #1 pick in the 2010 WHL Bantam Draft Alex Forsberg. Forsberg demanded a trade over the holiday break and with no attractive offers from WHL teams and Forsberg refusing to come back to BC the Cougars decided to allow him to play with the Broncos, who have his Junior A rights and will surely not complain to add a player who arguably is the most talented player in the SJHL instantly.
Melville also loaded up in depth at the deadline adding Tyson Predinchuk from the WHL's Spokane Chiefs. The Sherwood Division's other rival for the Terriers in the Hounds also added a small piece to their roster as Jens Johnson heads from the Red Wings in return for young prospect Colten Laroque. Nipawin also won at the deadline in adding players as the Canalta Cup hopefuls became evident in who was making moves at the deadline and who were trying to add prospects for the future.
The Terriers, who were leading towards not making a move at the deadline and keeping their already deep roster intact, but the Terriers did load up on an extra forward at the deadline as Josh Ellis a 1994 born forward from North Okanagan is headed to Yorkton. Ellis, who was playing for the North Okanagan Knights will give the Terriers an extra forward down the stretch drive towards the playoffs and give the team some insurance should a WHL call up or injury occur over the next few months.
With the deadline over, the SJHL season officially has reached the playoff push as fourteen games remain on the Terriers schedule and five weeks are left in the regular season before playoffs are over. A slight race for first place is now in the cards as the Terriers will have to stave off streaking teams in order to secure the home ice advantage that looked like a lock heading into Christmas. Games with the Hounds will serve as the marquee matchups of the final fourteen as the Terriers and notre Dame will get real familiar with one another heading into the playoffs with three games, including the final two in Yorkton circled on the calendar.
With so little games left on the calendar wins and points will be at a premium, after a long season it is finally time for must win hockey around the province. A Terriers team that's mind has been on the Canalta Cup since the first preseason game will be ready to secure home ice advantage and get ready for a deep spring run for the playoffs. Every team in the SJHL prepares for these final months, it is going to be an entertaining couple of weeks around the league. Fourteen or so games will decide the fate of the SJHL playoffs, the Terriers are looking to make a statement, this stretch is the time.
