The Yorkton Harvest earned three out of a possible six points for the week. While a reasonable week by most standards, the Harvest really need to put up more points in the standings at this point in the season.
Wednesday night, despite being outshot 53-34 by the Notre Dame Argos, the Harvest squeaked out a narrow 4-3 come from behind win on the strength of two third period goals at the Farrell Agencies Arena.
The teams traded a pair of first period goals to be tied at two after 20 minutes.
Sven Jung and Dominik Florian each scored once to give the Argos a brief two goal edge.
The Harvest replied with a pair of power play markers to tie the game. Brodie Schuette scored the first assisted by Kailum Gervais and Jeffrey Ness. Dakota Odgers notched the tying goal late in the period assisted by Gervais and Ness.
The lone second period goal by Austin Lightfoot handed Notre Dame a one goal lead after two periods.
A pair of early third period goals clinched the win for Yorkton. Josh Lees tied the game assisted by Tanner LeSann and Levi Morin. Schuette notched the game winner, his second goal of the game assisted by Odgers and Yanni Mamais.
Saturday afternoon the visiting Moose Jaw Generals outshot the Yorkton Harvest 43-25 on the way to a 4-1 win.
Colton Schick scored midway through the first period and Rhett Gardner's second period power play marker gave the Generals a two goal lead after 40 minutes.
A pair of third period goals, one each by Gardner and Darcy DeRoose clinched the 4-1 win for Moose Jaw.
Gervais accounted for Yorkton's lone goal, a short handed marker late in third period assisted by Nicholas Pouliott.
Sunday afternoon saw the Harvest succumb to some undisciplined play as the visiting Moose Jaw Generals power play capitalized on Yorkton's penalties, scoring three powerplay markers of four goals in the game.
The Harvest came out battling to score twice in the first period. Following Garners' early power play goal, Dakota Odgers tied the contest with a power play marker assisted by Schuette and Gervais. Blake McMillen notched Yorkton's second power play goal to give the Harvest a one goal lead after one period. LeSann and Brayden Park each earned assists on McMillen's goal.
The Generals replied with a pair of late second period power play goals, one each by Dayton Picard and DeRoose to take over a one goal lead for the Moose Jaw after two periods.
McGonigal tied the game at three early in the third period assisted by Mamais.
Zach Douglas slipped one by Harvest netminder Taryn Phaneuf early in the sudden death overtime period to clinch the 4-3 win for Moose Jaw.
Yorkton Harvest head coach Jeff Odgers says the Generals didn't win because they were a stronger team. "The mistakes we made and the time we gave them on the powerplay is what killed us, not skill or being outworked it was probably being out disciplined," Odgers states.
Down at the start of the third period, the Harvest had a big penalty kill, Odgers says he felt good going into overtime. "We knew we had to kill off a penalty and battle back to get at least one to give ourselves a chance to win. We did it and felt good going into overtime," he explains.
Unfortunately the Generals have some players who can make some plays. Defenseman Zak Douglas stepped up, made a rush, made a nice move and made a shot the puck off the post for the win, Odgers points out. "There are good players in this league and they make good plays," he asserts.
Despite the final scores Odgers says the weekend was huge for Harvest netminder Taryn Phaneuf. He gave the team a chance to win both games at home. The 4-1 loss Saturday wasn't his fault, Odgers claims.
Odgers says penalties, especially hit to the head penalties were a major factor in the Harvest loss Sunday. "We took, I believe, 12 or 14 minutes in hit to the head penalties and that's unacceptable. You're not going to win when you spend that much time in the penalty box," he declares.
Dealing with the recent flurry of head contact calls is just a matter of players relearning how to play and how to hit Odgers says. The Harvest who play with a rapid tempo with a lot of emotion, seem to have a hard time with head contact. "We have to learn to play hard and learn to play smart," he says.
The Harvest put together a good game against Notre Dame earlier in the week. Yorkton continues to have lapses where players are unable to put together a solid 60 minute effort which end up costing them.
The Harvest will face the Regina Pat Canadians and the North Battlefords Stars in the next week. Regina is about event with the Harvest in the current standings while Battleford is below Yorkton. If the Harvest are to make the playoffs they need to come up with three wins, Odgers closes.
