I'm sure it will be a playoff atmosphere tonight. There was a great crowd for the Estevan game Saturday and I hope to see that building packed for this game. This is also the first time Kindersley fans have seen Yorkton since October, so I'm sure this will be a highly anticipated contest, especially with the addition of Boyer and Buzzeo to the Dogs' lineup.
Here's a look at the top two teams in the Sherwood Conference.
Yorkton Terriers (27-14-2-4, 1st in Sherwood)
After a seven-game losing skid, the Terriers have suddenly won three of four, including a 9-1 win over the Hounds on Sunday. It was always going to take some time for Boyer, Buzzeo and Brant Remenda (who, by the way, will sit out with a suspension tonight) to adjust to their new teammates. Those two have been on fire since joining the Terriers, with 14 points apiece in six games. But let's not forget the other cogs that have kept Yorkton running all along. It all starts between the pipes with Devin Peters. Yorkton fans say he's been in a funk at times this year, but he's still one of the top goalies in the league for my money.
Yorkton has a solid blueline, although it isn't the team's strength. Still, a back end led by the likes of Blaine Tendler and Kurtis Decker is nothing to sneeze at. Up front, Clarke Breitkreuz, Robbie Ciolfi and Brent Struble are three of the biggest reasons why the team is in contention in the first place. The likes of Zak Majkowski and Craig Eisenhut have also stepped up in a big way.
Physical play is the Terriers' calling card and the Klippers will have to match that tenacious edge tonight, something they definitely didn't do on Saturday.
Kindersley Klippers (27-18-2, 2nd in Sherwood)
The Klippers, who got an honourable mention in Monday's CJHL Top 20 rankings, enter tonight's contest four points behind the Terriers. It's a crucial tilt for them because two points back will have them right in the race, but being six points back with 10 games left could be too much to overcome. Kindersley blew a major opportunity to draw even with Yorkton on Saturday, when they lost the second game of their weekend set 4-2 to Estevan. They came out flat in the first two periods and, as Rockie Zinger pointed out after the game, showed little interest in competing physically. That will have to change tonight.
Johnny Calkins' 14-game point streak was snapped Saturday, but he has been the hottest player in the SJHL over the last six weeks and that line can dominate teams when they're all on their game. Sanfred and Wheaton King have been dynamite together and Wheaton's presence has really rejuvenated that line. That said, it'll be tough going for them without D. Jay McGrath.
Taylor Duzan hasn't scored since Dec. 1, but he's been playing better and better the last few games, especially on Friday, and as he said the goals will come at some point if he keeps working hard. Tonight would be a great time for him to snap that skid. His linemate Jesse Mysiorek is back in the lineup tonight after missing four games with a groin injury, which will only help.
On the blueline, Sean Flanagan is coming off SJHL defenceman of the week honours (congrats Sean) and he has indeed been playing well of late. Kurt Leedahl has been terrific and John Sonntag had a great game on Friday. 18-year-old David Haaf has really stepped up his game lately as well. No word on who sits tonight. In goal, there is no question Sean Cahill gets the start for what is probably the team's biggest game of the season to date.
*****************************************
I was busy watching football on Sunday, so I didn't get a recap up from Saturday's loss to the Bruins. Here's what Rockie Zinger had to say about the game, as well as an update on McGrath and a brief look at tonight's game:
No comments:
Post a Comment