Terriers, Hawks Take Game 2's on Home Ice!

The Estevan Bruins were looking to avenge a 7-1 defeat on Friday night with a better effort tonight in Yorkton. Although the effort may have been a bit better, it was not enough as the Yorkton Terriers took a 2-0 series lead with a 4-2 victory.

The Terriers would score just 5:35 into the opening frame as Chris Cook would beat Bruins goaltender Karsten Felske. Corey Silverson assisted on the goal. Ken Petkau, the former Chilliwack Bruin and Red Deer Rebel, gave the Terriers a 2-0 lead just under eight minutes later with Silverson and Cody Zubko getting the assists. The Bruins would cut the deficit in half before the end of the period as Kyle Stroh would score his first of the playoffs on a wraparound goal which eluded Lynden Sammartino. Payden Benning and Kyle Ermel picked up the assists. The Terriers would restore their two goal advantage at the 11:21 mark of the second period as Bryan Hull, the former Notre Dame Hound, made it 3-1. Kevin Stringfellow and Derek Serdachny notched assists on the goal. The Bruins would score at the 2:44 mark of the third to get back within one as Chad Filteau used his blazing speed to create the scoring play after being the recipient of a long stretch pass from Kealin Wong. However, Zubko would salt things away for the Terriers with a late unassisted goal with just 1:34 to play to make the final 4-2 Terriers. Sammartino was stellar for the second straight night but not as busy tonight as he was called upon to stop 27 of 29 shots (this after a 61 save performance on Friday night). Felske made 32 saves in the Estevan goal. Both teams suffered some injuries in the game as Bruins forward Nick Colliton did not finish the game and was seen limping off at the end of play. Terriers forward Derek Serdachny appeared to injure his left wrist in the game and did not return. Their was a late dustup after Bruins coach Karry Biette decided to put his tough guys on the ice for the last couple of shifts. A scrap ensued between Vincein Scott of the Bruins and Michael Trebish of the Terriers. No doubt Terriers coach Ed Zawatsky will not be to happy about that and I am sure there will be no love loss when the teams meet for Game Three on Tuesday night in Estevan.

Meanwhile, after a loss in double overtime on Friday night in La Ronge, the Nipawin Hawks rebounded quite well with a convincing 5-0 shutout win over the visiting Ice Wolves. After a scoreless first period, the Hawks turned it on in the second period with three goals. Brent Ottmann got things going at the 6:37 mark from Steve Mason. Mike Rey would make it 2-0 Hawks at 15:09 of the period from Cody Wutzke and Kenton Miller. The Hawks would go up 3-0 just a 1:11 later as Torrie Dyck scored his first of two on the night notching a short-handed goal with Jordon Miller getting the lone assist. The Hawks continued to keep the pedal to the metal in the third as Dyck would score his second of the game at 2:10 from Keldon Sanderson. Ottmann would then finish off the scoring with his second of the game with just under two minutes to play in the third to make it 5-0. Blair Toms assisted on the goal. Derek Kleinsteuber picked up the shutout for the Hawks as he made 29 saves. Jonathan Jobin started for the Ice Wolves and allowed 4 goals on 45 shots in just over 53 minutes of play. Brian Kaval came in for mop up duties and allowed one goal on six shots. The Hawks tie the series up at one a piece. The line of Jordie Johnston, Jarrid Dowhay and Bruno-Pier Gosselin has been kept off the scoreboard so far by the Hawks in the series. The teams return to action Tuesday night in La Ronge.

Tonight's Three Stars:

* Derek Kleinsteuber - Nipawin Hawks (29 saves for shutout)
** Cody Zubko - Yorkton Terriers (2 point night and solid game for young Terrier)
*** Brent Ottmann - Nipawin Hawks (2 goal performance)

There will be no games tomorrow night in the SJHL playoffs but things will get back at it with four games on Tuesday night. In the Sherwood conference selection series the Weyburn Red Wings will host the Melville Millionaires while in the Itech conference selection series will feature the Melfort Mustangs visiting the Humboldt Broncos. Meanwhile the two elimination series will also continue as the Bruins host the Terriers and the Ice Wolves will host the Hawks.

- Brad M.