The SJHL playoffs don't officially get underway until the beginning of March, but try telling that to the fans of the Yorkton Terriers and Melville Millionaires as the two teams gave their fanbases a taste of what is to come this weekend in the final two games of the regular season between the Highway 10 rivals.
With under four points separating the two teams from first place in the Sherwood Division the back to back set on Friday and Saturday offered the Terriers a chance to retake first place for the first time since the holiday season and for Melville it gave the surprise Millionaires a chance to overtake first place in the league and the division for good after being projected to struggle heading into the preseason.
As expected the Terriers would go with workhorse and veteran goaltender Kale Thomson on Friday night when the Terriers travelled to Melville's Horizon Credit Union Centre for the first leg of the weekend set. Isaiah Plett would start in goal for the Millionaires, continuing his status as the number one choice in goal for Mils head coach Jamie Fiesel.
In front of 1361 fans who filled the HCUC on Friday it would be Melville's Cole Berreth who would give the crowd something to react to as the Millionaires would draw first blood on the weekend with a goal 6:44 into the period. The goal would come on the powerplay after Terriers forward Kailum Gervais was assessed a roughing after the whistle penalty for mixing it up with a Melville player.
Yorkton would outshoot Melville 14-8 in the opening period, but Plett would deny every Terrier chance as the Berreth powerplay goal would be good enough to send the Mils into the first intermission up 1-0 and feeling good about their chances to start the weekend off with crucial points on home ice. The Terriers however would have other plans heading into the second period.
In the second period the Millionaires fans would be treated to unpleasant reminders of their shortcomings in 2012/13 as the Terriers veterans would once again play the villian role coming out of the first intermission.
Tyler Giebel would get the Terriers on the board first as the veteran hero of the 2012/13 SJHL Playoffs would score his 12th of the year in a special moment for the forward who missed most of the first half of the season with an injury to his arm before returning to the lineup. Giebel's goal would come on the powerplay as for the second time in the night a roughing after the whistle penalty would lead to a crucial goal. This time it would be to the Terriers benefit as Michael Knaub's penalty opened the door for the Terriers to tie the game.
Yorkton would take the lead on another powerplay moments later in the second period as Kailum Gervais avenged his earlier penalty with the game winning goal on an unassisted marker. An empty net goal would make it a 3-1 final.
With a chance to take all four points at home on Saturday night the Terriers did not disappint. Roaring out to a 3-0 lead on the back of sniper Brett Boehm the Terriers would eventually hold onto a 4-3 lead with Boehm's third goal of the night being the eventual game winner in a 4-3 win in regulation to take all four points.
Yorkton would lose 4-1 to Humboldt on Tuesday at home in what was a game that screamed letdown after two straight wins over the Broncos prior to the game and the physical energy used over the weekend. Humboldt avenging a 7-0 loss, but the mood of the week for the Terriers could not be soured even with the loss.
After the sweep of the Mils, Terriers captain Devon McMullen summed up the thoughts of a very happy Yorkton dressing room.
"Anytime you can beat the Millionaires twice in a weekend is special if you are a Terrier, we know the rivalry and being here my whole career I love beating them and to take all four points was huge for us in the standings," says McMullen.
As for the race for first place heading towards the end of the season on March 1st, McMullen admitted the team is aware of the importance of home ice advantage, but reminded everyone that they didn't finish first in the league last year and still won on home ice in Game 6 over Humboldt.
"We know that home ice is important and we have done well at the FAA the last few years, but we believe that we can win the title in any situation after winning the title last year so it isn't the end of the world if it doesn't happen."
Head coach Trent Cassan was happy with the Terriers week and was quick to nip the bud at any talk of a "letdown" in their loss, mentioning that Humboldt are a strong team.
"The Broncos are a contender and we beat them twice in a row, so to think that we are going to win every game is foolish and they came out very motivated after our 7-0 win so full credit to them."
Yorkton is back in action Friday night in La Ronge.
