The Yorkton Terriers played only one Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League game this week a loss on home ice Friday.
The visitors to the Farrell Agencies Arena were the Nipawin Hawks who started the scoring with a short-handed effort by Austen Flaman 1:09 into the contest.
The one-goal would hold until the midway point of the second frame when Branden Klatt tied the score at 10:11.
It would be a short-lived tie as Christian Bosa re-established a one-goal lead for the Hawks at 14:10. The goal would prove the game-winner, as well as the last goal scored in the 2-1 contest.
Patrick Pugliese was the winning netminder facing 29-shots in the Nipawin net, while Ryan Ouellette took the loss for the Terriers facing 35.
“It was a good week,” offered Terrier head coach Mat Hehr, adding that goes back to last Tuesday win over Estevan.
Against Nipawin Hehr said the Terriers played well enough, but he credited the Hawks for how they played.
“They played great defence and shut down our offence,” he said.
Hehr said the last couple of games have had a definite ‘playoff feel’ in terms of teams playing tight defensively. He added he is fine with that as the Terriers have to be prepared for tight games with limited scoring when the playoffs do roll around.
So far he likes how the Terrier defence is jelling.
“The play of the defence especially compared to a month ago is very good,” he offered. “It’s really been our focus to clamp down on defence.”
With the loss to Nipawin the Terriers record sits at 17-11-1 for 35 points, tops in the SJHL’s Viterra Division, three points better than Estevan with 32. Weyburn sits third with 23 points, with Melville fourth with 22 points.
Up next
The Terriers host Melville Friday, then head south down Highway #10 to play the Millionaires in their barn Saturday.
Next Tuesday, (Dec,.18) the Terriers are scheduled to play in Estevan.
