Terriers; Millionaires drop 2018/19 SJHL Season Openers

The Yorkton Terriers dropped their 2018/19 SJHL Season Opener on Friday, 6-4 to the Weyburn Red Wings at Crescent Point Place. 

After scoreless first part the opening period, the Terriers would then strike at the 10:39 mark as rookie Greg Mulhall walked across the blue-line and snapped one just over the left shoulder of Wings goaltender Riley Lamb for his 1st SJHL goal to give the visitors an early 1-0 lead. The Red Wings would respond just under 6 minutes later, as Jordan Kazmyra would capitalize on his rebound and bang one through Terries net minder Ben Laidlaw for his 1st of the season to even it up at 1-1. Colby Brandt would regain the Yorkton one goal lead just 46 seconds later as he came off his off wing then forehand then back-hand through the five-hole of Lamb for his 1st goal as a Terrier to give them a 2-1 lead after 20 minutes. 

Shots after 1 were 20-8 in favour of the Terriers.

In the 2nd, the Terriers PP would strike as Brandon Klatt would redirect a shot short side for his 1st of the season to give his team their first two goal lead at 3-1 just 2:54 into the middle frame. The score would stay like that until 1:11 remaining in the period when 2nd year Red Wing Ben Hiltz would beat Laidlaw under his right arm to cut the Wings’ deficit back to one at 3-2 after 2 periods.

Terriers continued to lead the shot department at 35-18 after 2 

The Red Wings would draw even just 8:31 into the 3rd period as Jordan Kazmyra would take a nice feed back-door from Sean Olson and would make no mistake for his 2nd of the night to make it 3-3. Just 4:29 later, it would be Cody Bruchkowski bringing the Terriers back ahead at 4-3 with his 1st of the year ripping one of the left pad of Riley Lamb. But once again the Red Wings would answer as just 32 seconds later, Cade Kowalski would sneak behind the Terrier defence and go back-hand shelf for his 1st to draw them even at 4-4. The home team would grab their first lead of the night later as Ben Hiltz got his 2nd of the nigh to make it 5-4. The Red Wings would add some insurance as Kazmyra would complete the Hat-Trick to help his team to the Season Opening victory. 

Weyburn goalie Riley Lamb earned his 1st SJHL victory making 44 saves on 48 shots while Ben Laidlaw made 25 saves for the Terriers in the loss. 

The Terriers' next action will be on Tuesday night when they visit the Estevan Bruins at Affinity Place. GX94 will broadcast the game with Yorkton Dodge Junior Hockey, pregame 6:50 pop at 7PM. 

Meanwhile in Melville,

The Melville Millionaires got a point but fell on home ice in their season opener 5-4 in the shootout to the Estevan Bruins. 

Jaxon Tait, Ryan Heino, Montana Streit and Daniel Liberty scored the Mils while Colby Entz made 36 saves in the SO loss. 

TJ Irey, Michael McChesney, Jake Heerspink and George Cathers replied for the visiting Bruins. 

The two teams will meet in the back-end of the home and home on Saturday night at 7:30PM from Affinity Place. 

Elsewhere in the SJHL,

Kindersley 3 Battlefords 1

Flin Flon 7 La Ronge 4 

Humboldt 0 Nipawin 4 

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The preseason continued in the Manitoba Junior Hockey League on Friday night and both the Swan Valley Stampeders and Waywayseecappo Wolverines were victorious. 

The Stamps got a 1G 2A from Carter Cockburn to lead them to a 5-1 victory over the OCN Blizzard. 

Michael Davis made 21 saves for Swan in the win. 

Meanwhile the Wolverines' Preston Seymour had 3 points to lead them to a 3-2 win over the Dauphin Kings on the road. 

Saskatoon's Issac Labelle turned aside 22 of 24 shots to earn the win 

The Stamps wrap up their preseason on Saturday night in Virden against the Oil Capitals while the Wolverines' next game will be their regular season opener next Friday night in Steinbach.