It was not the start the Yorkton Hyundai Terriers hope for.
Nor would it be the end result they sought either.
The Terriers were hosting the La Ronge Ice Wolves at the Farrell Agencies Arena in the first game of their best-of-seven Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League playoffs, and the first period was all visitors.
It took Jake Gudjonson only 31-seconds to give the Ice Wolves a 1-0 lead.
A powerplay effort by Grant Longtin at 12:15, and an even strength marker from Daylon Mannon extended the La Ronge lead to 3-0 by the time the teams headed to the dressing rooms after 20-minutes.
The league’s leading regular season scorer Chantz Petruic scored 5:46 into the second period, the powerplay effort giving the hometown fans hope.
But, the hopes were diminished quickly as Holden Knights got the goal back for La Ronge with an unassisted effort.
The Ice Wolves’ powerplay added a fifth goal to the tally when Kevin Fillier scored a man advantage effort at 18:36.
The Ice Wolves headed into the third period up 5-1, adding the only goal of the frame at 16:52, the team’s fourth powerplay goal of the game, this one from the stick of Ben Manson.
Xavier Cannon was the winning netminder facing 29-shots for La Ronge, while Matthew Pesenti took the loss facing 35-shots in the Terrier net.
Terrier head coach Mat Hehr said there was not a lot positive in the contest from the Yorkton perspective.
“We looked like a very young and nervous group,” he said, adding that worked to La Ronge’s advantage as the Ice Wolves “are a very hard working team” that fed on Terrier miscues all night.
So why the slow start?
“We just didn’t come close to the game plan,” said Hehr.
Hehr added his veterans were off their games. He said his best performances came from young players Colby Vrani, Brett LeGrandeur and AP call-up Vaughn Watterrodt.
It also didn’t help that the Ice Wolves were quick to transition to offence, having a number of breakaways and two-one-ones.
While Pesenti was beat for six goals, Hehr said it was not a goaltending problem.
“I don’t think we played well enough as a team to even look his way,” said Hehr.
The teams match-up for game two of the series Saturday again at the Farrell Agencies Arena in the city.
