Terriers fall in WCC Opener to Winnipeg Blues

A 3 goal first period was the difference, as the Yorkton Terriers dropped their first game of the 2014 Crescent Point Energy Western Canada Cup, 3-1 to the MJHL Turnbull Cup Champion Winnipeg Blues.

It wasn't the start, the Terriers wanted to begin the tournament as just 2:01 into the 1st, Jake Stillwell would get the Blues on the board redirecting one past Riley Medves, who made his 1st start since March 1st, and that gave the MJHL champs a 1-0 lead. The Terriers though would find a little bit of jump and manufacture some good chances on goal but couldn't beat Blues goalie Byron Spriggs. The Blues would add 2 more to end off the 1st period, one was just as their 2nd powerplay expired and it came off the stick of Ryan Bittner who got his first of the WCC, and then Clay Tait would add another his 1st of the tournament to give the Blues a 3-0 lead after 1 period of the play.

The Terriers came back with a better effort in period number 2, and looked like they found out their legs a little more and then they were able to go to the powerplay for the first time. On that ensuing powerplay, the Terriers would convert just 15 seconds into that man advantage Riley Hunt would deflect home his 1st of the tournament to cut the Terriers' deficit to 3-1, and that's where we sat after 40 minutes.

In a 3rd period the Terriers needed to kill off just over a minute of powerplay, which they did, they had more great opportunities to get even more back into this hockey game but they would end off not be able to beat the Blues netminder Byron Spriggs who really settled in as the game got later, especially a huge save on Tyler Giebel with just over 11 minutes remaining in regulation which could've really turned around this game in a different direction.

Byron Spriggs continues his very solid postseason play, stopping 25 of the 26 Terriers shots for the 1st Goaltending win of the tournament while Riley Medves who made the start in relief of Kale Thomson stopped 21 shots in a losing cause

Special Teams was a bright spot for the Terriers as they were able to kill off 6 Winnipeg Blues powerplays this afternoon, and were 1 for 2 with the man advantage. But the Terriers know they need to get off to a better start and need to better.

Terriers Player of the Game: #91 Tayler Thompson
Blues Player of the Game: #6 Channing Bresciani

3 Stars:
1) Channing Bresciani- WPG
2) Byron Spriggs- WPG
3) Riley Hunt- YOR
The Terriers will go right back at it on Sunday night, when they take on the host Dauphin Kings. 5:45/6:00 SK time on GX94 while the Blues will have Sunday off before taking on the BCHL Champion Coquitlam Express in Monday's lone game.

Post Game Comments for Terries Asst. Coach Casey O'Brien below: