In the first game of the two game series at home Saturday, the Harvest saw a 2-0 first period lead evaporate as the visiting Swift Current Legionnaires scored three second period goals on the way to a 4-2 win.
Kody Thue opened the scoring for Yorkton early in the first period assisted by Levi Morin.
Lynnden Pastachak gave the Harvest a two goal edge after 20 minutes with a powerplay goal assisted by Nicholas Pouliot and Dakota Odgers.
That, unfortunately, is when the Harvest stopped scoring while the Legionnaires notched three goals in the second period, including a pair of markers by Tim Vanstone and one by Zac Mackay. Daylan Gatzke added a fourth goal early in the third period for the 4-2 win.
In the second game of the two game home ice series, the Legionnaires emerged with a second 4-2 win despite being outshot 34-28 by a battling Harvest team.
Following a scoreless first period, Swift Current struck for three second period goals while Yorkton replied with a pair of markers. Eric Saleski, Mackay and Lyler Beckett each scored once for Swift Current.
Pastachak opened the scoring for Yorkton with a late second period powerplay goal assisted by Odgers and Pouliot.
Brayden Park pulled the Harvest within one with a little over a minute remaining in thte second period assisted by Pastachak.
A third period goal by Saleski, his second of the game, clinched the 4-2 win for the Swift Current Legionnaires.
Yorkton Harvest head coach Jeff Odgers admits it was a tough weekend as the team lost 4-2 in both home games.
He feels the Harvest worked hard and battled in both games and created a lot of good scoring chances. Swift Current played well defensively and both their goal tenders were outstanding, Odgers concedes. "Their goal tenders were a huge difference," he says.
Not being able to capitalize on some four minute powerplay opportunities early in the game was another huge difference, Odgers adds. "After the first period, I felt we took the play to them and had the majority of scoring chances. Not to come out ahead was tough," he admits.
"The guys continued to play hard. I was very impressed with the effort that they had this afternoon. They competed. They battled. They did everything we asked and it just didn't work out for them," Odgers closes.
The double loss combined with the eighth place Saskatoon Blazers 7-2 win over the Tisdale Trojans Sunday afternoon, puts the Harvest 13 points out the last playoff spot, essentially eliminating the team from the playoffs this season.
