It was a weekend Yorkton will never forget and one that is hard to describe. Three overtimes. Blown 3-0 leads. A goal with just under 30 seconds left to win the title and anything you can think of in between. This is what it took for the Yorkton Terriers to return to the promised land and lift the Canalta Cup, beating the defending champion Broncos in six classic games to conclude what was one of the best series in SJHL history.
After a 4-1 win Game Four win on Thursday night the Terriers travelled back down to the EPA Arena in Humboldt knowing that a win would give them the best chance to lift the title with Game Six back at the friendly confines of the FAA on Sunday night, little did they know how hard it would be as one of the greatest games in SJHL history began to unfold.
Matthew Audette opened the scoring for Humboldt on a shorthanded goal, taking advantage of a missed pass back to the blueline that trickled over Dylan Baer's stick and led to a breakaway goal in the first. It would be the last goal that Dawson MacAuley let in that night.
In the second period the Terriers got their equalizer as Tyler Giebel put home a rebound off a Dakota Odgers shot to beat Matt Hrynkiw at 7:31 of the second period. It would be the last goal Matt Hrynkiw would allow in regulation. For the remaining 32:29 of regulation both teams would try time after time to beat MacAuley and Hrynkiw in what was a fast paced game, but both goalies made sensational save after sensational save, sending the game into overtime with Hrynkiw making 35 saves and MacAuley matching with 29.
With a 4-1 record in overtime in the playoffs including the Game One win the Broncos were doing their best to end the overtime session as quickly as they did in the opening contest, getting the majority of the chances early but Dawson MacAuley kept shutting the door, even going well out of his net to stop a breakaway stretch pass and cover the puck nearly past the face-off circle in what was a unbelievable effort. Devon McMullen had the best chance of the first overtime for the Terriers getting fed wide open in front of the cage on a three on one but Hrynkiw denied and the first OT ended in a deadlock. Daylan Gatzke and Rhett Blackmur took roughing after the whistle penalties to end the first overtime as both teams let the intensity get the better of them, meaning the second overtime would start four on four.
The second overtime would be all Humboldt, outshooting the Terriers 12-7, but MacAuley once again stole the show. After a questionable Nathan Murray holding call after having the refs swallow the whistle for much of the game the Terriers would have their biggest test of the game. With some inspired defense from Chase and Brady Norrish and more saves from MacAuley, the Terriers denied Humboldt on the powerplay and once again when Chase Norrish hustled back to poke check the puck away from Alex Forsberg on a clear breakaway to help get the Terriers to the third overtime session with both goalies nearing in on 50 shots on goal.
In the third overtime the EPA found its hero as Jeremy Johnson brought the heavy Terriers contingent that made its way to Humboldt and stuck out the whole four hour marathon to the bitter end to their feet with a beautiful deflection to win the game 1:10 seconds into the third overtime ending a 101:10 classic that seemed like it would never end. Johnson credited the winner to simply being at the right place in front of the net. "I was screening Hrynkiw in front and I just got my stick on it at the right time and got lucky to get the winner and I am happy to send the boys back home up 3-2 in the series" said an elated Johnson post game. Trent Cassan had nothing but praise for both goaltenders after the game, taking in a night that saw both goalies reach the fifty save plateau. "Dawson was amazing for us tonight and kept us in it at times when Humboldt could have scored" says Cassan who also credited the Broncos and their goalie Matt Hrynkiw on a hard fought game. MacAuley mentioned that the triple OT experience was new to the former backup but he got settled in and let adrenaline take over. "I never played in a game that has went that long before so it was a new experience for me but I just kept staying focused in helping the boys out and Jeremy got a big goal and everyone tried their best to block shots and get out rebounds and it was a special night to get the win" says MacAuley.
The win set up a Game Six 20 hours after Game Five as the teams would have to deal with fatigue playing on back to back nights, but with so much at stake in an elimination game it was a given that both teams would battle through dead legs and aches and pains in order to lift the trophy. Trent Cassan inserted John Odgers back into the lineup while Broncos head coach Dean Brockman inserted defenseman David Stumborg as both coaches looked to get a jump from two hard nosed players who were Game Five scratches. In the first period the Terriers game out flying as Patrick Martens scored his 11th goal of the playoffs one minute in to get the crowd on its feet. Nathan Murray finally broke through after a playoffs full of chances using some nifty hands for a big man, going forehand then backhand to beat Hrynkiw for his first goal of the playoffs. Austin Bourhis did the same just before the end of the first, ripping a clapper from the blueline to get his first of the playoffs to give the Terriers a commanding 3-0 lead, putting Humboldt on the ropes.
However the defending league champions would not go down without a fight, taking advantage of a Devon McMullen penalty to get on the board via a Neil Landry goal before Audette continued his clutch play with a goal three minutes after to make it 3-2. Humboldt continued to pressure for the rest of the period, but MacAuley continued to make acrobatic save after acrobatic save, using his size and 6 7" frame to cover the corners of the net last second on multiple occasions to keep the score at 3-2 going into the third where the Terriers would see themsevles 20 minutes away from their first title since 2006.
The third period would be a tense one as the Terriers looked for the fourth goal to put the things away while Humboldt continued to force MacAuley into bailing out his team on numerous occasions, Nathan Murray had a chance to seal the game with just under six minutes left but Hrynkiw saved his Broncos season with a big save before Adam Antkowiak banged home a rebound after more full effort saves from MacAuley to tie the game with little time left in the third, making overtime a likely outcome.
In the end the captain Devon McMullen and the hometown kid playing in his last game in his own barn combined for what will be one of the greatest moments in Terrier history as a Devon McMullen wrist shot from the point deflected once again off Jeremy Johnson for the game winning goal with :28 seconds left on the clock to give the Terriers a 4-3 lead, blowing the roof off the FAA and sending Humboldt into a shock. The Broncos would get a late powerplay as Austin Bourhis took an interference penalty, but Humboldt's last gasp hit the post with one second left and the Terriers sealed a championship seven years in the making.
Captain Devon McMullen was credited the game winner but gave all the credit to Johnson after the game showing his team first qualities, "Actually the puck bounced off Jeremy but I threw it on net right as it got on my stick and it is an incredible feeling to get this win after so many battles in this series and playing with these guys for so long to win a title is simply amazing" explains McMullen. Johnson, who got the game winner in triple overtime finishes a career in Yorkton hockey from the very start that saw the very talented local forward go from playing house hockey with the Yorkton Minor Hockey Terriers to completing a childhood dream to score the game winning goal at home for his hometown club. "To score the winning goals to give the city a championship is a feeling that you can't even put into words" explains Johnson. "In only getting two full seasons with the Terriers it is special to get a title with a group of teammates that I love and in front of friends and family it is just incredible" said Johnson who has been one of the Terriers biggest offensive threats in his last season of Junior eligibility.
Dawson MacAuley was once again phenomenal making 30 stops and despite letting in three goals likely saved the Terriers the game after Humboldt started to make their push making some unbelievable stops. Even with an amazing game MacAuley admits that when he let in the game tying goal he started to get nerves. "I will admit I got a bit worrierd once they tied it up, but we all didn't have much time to worry and I knew our group would push through and get the job done" said the Co-Playoff MVP sharing the title with Brady Norrish.
Head coach Trent Cassan knew Game Six would be huge and was happy that his team put the series away at home finishing off a season where they were 33-2-0-1 at the FAA. "After winning Game Five we knew we would have to battle through some fatigue but in the playoffs there is no time for rest and our guys accepted the challenge and maybe it was a little closer than we would have liked but that is why Humboldt are the defending champions and both teams gave everything they had in this series" says Cassan.
As for the difference in this team and last year's two very clear changes led to the Terriers rise to the top of the Sherwood Division and to the league title: depth and goaltending. Cassan echoed home this point mentioning that this year the Terriers got a lot of guys back from the Western league on the blueline in Austin Bourhis and John Neibrandt as well as guys like John Odgers and Tayler Thompson all older players who came back from the disappointment of not making the WHL to being experienced contributors to a title winning team. "We had so much more depth and experience this year especially on the blueline where you look at guys like the Norrish twins who brought so much energy to the table during the regular season and then carried it over into the playoffs and everyone on the team as well accepting their roles and being willing to play or sit any night then coming back and making the most of their opportunities which is the mark of a championship team" says Cassan.
Dawson MacAuley was once again praised by his coach as Cassan mentioned that MacAuley went a long way from being cut from Medicine Hat during the summer to being arguably the best goalie in the SJHL when the dust settled. "He was really gutted to get sent back from Medicine Hat and he worked really hard in the summer and I was also upset for him because part of my job is to see guys through to the next level but his hard work ended up paying off for us as he took over the starters job and beat the league MVP in Alex Wakaluk before beating the best statistical goaltender in Matt Hrynkiw so it kind of speaks to the kind of talent Dawson has" mentions Cassan. As for MacAuley's future the 18 year old has two potential years left with the Terriers, but with a listing still in the WHL and a chance to rise his stock even further with a Western Canada Cup run you might see the big goaltender in a Western league gig next season.
Dakota Odgers can be looked at as one of the reasons the Terriers are sitting where they are at right now. The young prospect came back from Swift Current after the WHL Playoffs and started Game Five against the Millionaires and began a point per game pace that saw the young Odgers only miss the scoresheet in one of his eight games for the Terriers giving him four goals and four assists. Patrick Martens also deserves praise in his 11 goals and two assists in the playoffs despite sitting down due to injury for two games.
In Game Six veteran leadership stepped up when it counted. Murray, Bourhis, Martens and Johnson were all playing in their last games at the FAA as 20 year olds. Making lasting memories of their final game in Yorkton with each of them scoring big goals when it mattered the most.
On Humboldt's side Joey Davies and Matt Hrynkiw deserve credit for great playoffs. Davies ended his Junior career with 17 points in the playoffs while Hrynkiw battled in between the pipes in six overtime games for the Broncos in his last run in his career as well. Combined with last year's SJHL/Anavet Cup wins Hrynkiw was 21-9 in the playoffs with his save percentage never dipping below .931 in any of those series, capping off what was an illustrious career for the fan favorite in Humboldt. The Broncos and their coach Dean Brockman deserve full credit for defending their title to the bitter end, coming back from a 3-0 hole on the road to nearly force a game seven.
As for now the Terriers will focus on preparing for the Western Canada Cup in Nanaimo where the BCHL, AJHL, MJHL and SJHL champs will join the Nanaimo Clippers in a five team tournament where the top two teams advance to the Royal Bank Cup. The Canalta Cup hero in Jeremy Johnson says he is ready for the challenge of playing the top teams in Western Canada saying "There will be really great teams there, but we have it all defense, scoring, heart, goaltending and I think we have as great of a chance as anybody."
Head coach Trent Cassan said that the twelve day layover to the tournament as well as being the first team in will give the Terriers a chance to soak up winning the league and rest some battered bodies before gearing up for spring camp and practice for the inaugural tournament that is replacing the Anavet Cup.
As of Monday the Dauphin Kings are playing Steinbach in the MJHL Final while in Alberta Spruce Grove is playing Brooks in their league final. Over in the host province Surrey and Penticton will be looking to join Nanaimo as the BCHL representatives with all of their finals set to close in the coming week.
The Terriers will meet the host Clippers on opening night April 27 to kick off the tournament before playing the MJHL champions (Dauphin or Steinbach) the following afternoon. Then the Terriers will look forward to playing the AJHL champs (Brooks or Spruce Grove) the afternoon of Tuesday, April 30, and the BC reps (Surrey or Penticton) the afternoon of Thursday, May 2 to conclude their round robin.
Right now the Terriers can hold their heads high as the first South franchise to win the SJHL title since 2005-06. After a long season that started with training camp way back in August, the Terriers are league champions and are off to the final checkpoint on the Road to the RBC Cup and they wouldn't have it any other way.
