The Weyburn Red Wings shutout the Yorkton Terriers 4-0 in the Terriers final game of their extended road series at Crescent Point Place in Weyburn. Following a scoreless first period the Wings scored two goals in each of the second and third periods for the win.
Taylor Balog and Jens Johnson each scored once to give Weyburn a 2-0 lead after 40 minutes.
Jesse Ross notched two third period goals to hand the Red Wings the four goal win.
Weyburn net minder Mitch Kilgore claimed the shutout.
On their return to home ice for the first time this month, a three goal second as well as some fine goal keeping gave the Yorkton Terriers a 4-1 win over the visiting Humboldt Broncos.
Following a scoreless first, Terrier left winger Kyle McLeod opened second period scoring for Yorkton assisted by Tayler Thompson.
Nathan Murray added Yorkton's second goal midway through the period assisted by Riley Paterson and Curtis Oliver.
Brent Struble's power play goal late in the second made it 3-0 for the Terriers after two periods assisted by Tyler Giebel and Zak Majkowski.
Paterson scored Yorkton's fourth goal, a solo marker, early in the final frame to make it 4-0 for the Terriers.
With 4:01 remaining in the game, Andrew Herle slipped the puck past Terrier net minder Kale Thomson to spoil his shutout bid. Thomson, who turned aside 26 of 27 shots on goal, was named first game star.
Terrier assistant coach Casey O'Brian says the Terriers played well in Weyburn, came out strong in the first period and had a couple of good scoring chances on the power play but simply couldn't put the puck into the Weyburn net early. As a result the Red Wings got established defensively.
"Their goalie came up with some big stops which were probably game changers for them. Kilgore is one of the better goalies in the league and he was the difference that night," O'Brian adds.
Yorkton has faced Humboldt three times this year, winning two of the three meetings, O'Brian notes. He points out that the Broncos were missing some key players and predicts they will continue to be a force to be reckoned with.
"We have to be a team that keeps attacking all the time, O'Brian says. He referred to the previous game with the Broncos where Yorkton saw a three goal lead evaporate when the Terriers settled back into a defensive mode to protect their lead. Friday night the Terriers didn't let up. They kept coming after the Broncos despite their four goal lead.
The Terriers control the puck well down low, O'Brian claims. "We're a hard team to play against. We cycle the puck very well. Defensemen are going to make mistakes. Playing defense is not easy when you have guys like Paterson, Murray, Struble, Majkowski and Tayler Thompson," he acknowledges.
Thompson could be a great addition to the club, O'Brian suggests. "He could be a three year guy since he's only 18," he adds, fully aware that Thompson could possibly be called back up to the WHL.
Currently the Terriers have 25 players in town.
O'Brian says he was pleased with Thomson's performance. It helps to build confidence in both the team and in the goalie. "That's kind of what you expect of a goalie, especially a young guy who wants to make a statement to earn a spot here," O'Brian states.
With three goalies currently on the roster, Thomson's not making the decision any easier for the coaches, O'Brian admits.
