The Yorkton Terriers just keep getting better as the SJHL season continues to heat up into its second month. After being predicted by many people around the SJHL to be in the middle of the playoff pack, the Terriers have found themselves with a 9-2-1 record twelve games into their season and are now the sixth best Junior A team in the country according to the Canadian Junior Hockey League rankings. What is even more intriguing and exciting for the Terriers is that they keep stockpiling on talent. Former Terriers John Neibrandt and Dawson MacAuley have returned from their WHL clubs and are ready to add depth to a an already loaded Terriers roster. Neibrandt a former WHL champion with the Kootenay Ice, returns from the Vancouver Giants to add an experience veteran presence on the blueline for the Terriers who already returned Austin Bourhis from the WHL to a stacked defensive core just two weeks ago. MacAuley has had strong showings in goal for the Terriers in his time here and will be returning from the Medicine Hat Tigers to form a strong one-two punch at the goalie position with Kale Thomson, who has had been solid in net in the Terriers hot start to the season as the number one goalie.
On the ice, the Terriers had a successful weekend, winning on the road in Melfort before returning home for a Saturday night clash with the La Ronge Ice Wolves. The Terriers opened up the game with a bang, scoring four unanswered goals on the Ice Wolves before holding on to a 4-3 lead to stay undefeated at the Farrell Agencies Arena. Brenden Poncelet opened the scoring with an unassisted goal three minutes into the first period before Nathan Murray and Patrick Martens scored two quick tallies near the end of the opening period to go into the dressing room with a 3-0 lead. Murray scored another quick opening period goal on the powerplay in the second on another unassisted effort which proved to be the game winner as despite a valiant effort by the Ice Wolves to make a comeback, inching to within one goal with a late powerplay goal with 1:43 left in the third period, could not come back from the Terriers explosive start to the game.
Tuesday night the Terriers travelled to Kindersley to take on former Terrier starting goalie Warren Shymko and the Klippers. Shymko earned sweet revenge over his former team and continued what has been a bounce back year for him in Kindersley with a 56 save performance, stealing a win for his Klippers and giving the Terriers just their second loss of the season. The Terriers dominated the Klippers in the shots department 59-33, including outshooting Kindersley 24-10 in the third period, but just could not solve Shymko as the Klippers held on to a one goal lead in a 4-3 win.
Despite the loss the Terriers can take away the positive that their powerplay is continuing to show its strength, scoring two goals in five opportunities in the loss. Brady Norrish and Patrick Martens both notched powerplay markers and if the Terriers can continue to take advantage on the powerplay, they will continue their winning ways throughout the season.
Next action for the Terriers sees them travelling to Battlefords to play the Stars before returning home for a two game homestand with the Nipawin Hawks and the Estevan Bruins before embarking on a three week road trip. The Terriers host the Hawks Saturday night and will be hoping to have a repeat of the Hawks last return to the FAA where Kale Thomson earned a shutout in a 3-0 win. Tuesday the Terriers will play the Bruins in what will be the first action of the season between the two teams. Estevan currently sits at fifth in the Sherwood Conference standings with a 3-7-2 record and will be in tough against the Terriers, who are tied for first place.
