After coming out slow out of the gate, falling to 1-2 after a shock early loss at home to the Battlefords North Stars, it has been business as usual for the Yorkton Terriers since then as the defending Canalta Cup Champions have returned to their winning ways, putting together a four game winning streak to improve their record to 5-2 after three straight wins following the SJHL Showcase in Warman last week (the Terriers beat Estevan before the break).
On Friday night the Terriers got their chance at a rematch at the Farrell Agencies Arena with the North Stars. With the Stars back in enemy territory an onslaught of goals from Yorkton veterans led the way to 7-3 win. After a goaless first period ten goals were scored in the final 40 minutes with the hosts coming on top thanks to the contributions of their captain and a goal apiece from the Norrish twins from the blueline as the North Stars saw a much different team in their return to the FAA as it was clear that after the week long SJHL Showcase layoff that the Terriers returned back to action focus and as a cohesive unit. Captain Devon McMullen was undoubtedly the catalyst for the win, scoring two goals in the game and earning SJHL Defenseman of the Week honors.
Rookie Tyson Enzie scored his first goal SJHL to break the ice for the Terriers after Igor Leonenko gave the Stars a 1-0 lead early in the second period, from then on there it seemed to be all Yorkton after that point. Kale Thomson got the start in the win making 22 saves on 25 shots.
On Saturday the Terriers would have a chance avenge their other early season loss of 2013/14, heading back to Weyburn's Crescent Point Place for the first time since losing to the Red Wings on Opening Night. After three third period goals from the Wings sunk the Terriers in that first game, Yorkton did one better scoring four final period goals to give them their second straight win over Weyburn in a dramatic comeback.
After a Kailum Gervais goal put the Terriers up 1-0 after the first period, goals from Donovan Lumb, Braden Mellon, and Ty McLean in the second period gave the host Red Wings a 3-1 lead going into the final twenty minutes. With their backs against the wall the Terriers would push back.
Goals from rookie Jordan Ross and 20 year old forward Tyler Giebel tied the game at 3-3 before Tayler Thompson gave the Terriers the game winning goal at 13:113 of the third period. An empty net goal would be added to make it a final score of 5-3, a big win for the Terriers who just three weeks prior lost to the Wings in Weyburn.
Next up would be a Canalta Cup rematch with the Humboldt Broncos at the FAA Tuesday. The site of the Terriers SJHL Championship win would be revisited by the Broncos and although different goalies and players were in the mix, the game was still a highly anticipated clash for both teams who gave an expected defensive battle between the league's best bluelines for the opening two periods.
A scoreless first period was followed by the Broncos getting first blood in the second before Giebel scored his fourth goal of the season with 24 seconds left in the second period to send the teams into the second intermission at a deadlock.
In the third period the line of Tayler Thompson, Jordan Ross and Kailum Gervais would prove to be the difference as the playmaking of Thompson early in 2013/14 continued as the 20 year old former product of the Prince George Cougars of the WHL tallied his eighth and ninth assists of the season on Jordan Ross and Kailum Gervais goals to give the Terriers a 3-1 win. For Ross it was his second GWG at the FAA in just one month with the Terriers.
Thompson after the game admitted that the history between the Broncos and Terriers from the SJHL Finals last year and their statuses as favorites in their conferences again this year made this a game that was highly anticipated.
"You don't try to focus too much on your opponent, especially in the regular season and get caught up in the emotion of things, but we definitely knew that this was a good test and wanted to come out with a full effort," says Thompson.
With two goals and nine assists under his belt, Thompson is on fire since returning from Portland Winterhawks camp. He says that he is focused on finishing his Junior career on a high note in Yorkton.
"We have a great group of guys and this is my team so getting off to a hot start was a goal of mine and I am willing to do whatever it takes to get us back to another league title and to the Royal Bank Cup," says Thompson who also kills penalties for the Terriers on their first PK unit.
