The La Ronge Ice Wolves and Yorkton Terriers are deadlocked at one game apiece in their first-round SJHL playoff series following the first two games in Yorkton.
The Ice Wolves scored a convincing 6-1 victory Friday, but Yorkton replied Saturday night with a come-from-behind 4-3 win.
“I think penalties definitely cost us,” said Ice Wolves Associate Coach Gaelan Patterson. “We addressed it too in the intermission, we knew the game was kind of going that way.”
The Ice Wolves opened the scoring 6:57 into the game when Daylon Mannon whizzed around the Yorkton zone and wired his second of the series upstairs past Matthew Pesenti, who made 25 saves for the victory. The Terriers tied the game at one 9:13 into the first on the power play when Kaeden Taphorn banked a rebound past Xavier Cannon, who stopped 32 shots in the loss.
La Ronge took a 2-1 advantage 3:46 into the second when Chad McIlwain stuffed in his first of the series at the side of the crease. The Terriers made it a 2-2 contest 5:32 into the stanza on the man advantage after Chantz Petruic connected on a one-timer.
The Ice Wolves would restore the lead 8:43 into the third when Grant Longtin scored his second of the series. Kaiden Collumb sent an offering on net from the right circle that was eventually tipped in by Longtin.
Yorkton tied the game at three 15:15 into the period on the man advantage when Chantz Petruic walked out front and tucked home his second of the evening past Xavier Cannon. The Terriers would score the eventual game-winner on another late power play 17:06 into the frame when Alec Zawatsky wired home his first of the post-season.
The Ice Wolves will now get set for the third installment of the series on Tuesday night at the Mel Hegland Uniplex in La Ronge. It’s the first playoff game in La Ronge since the 2015-16 season, and Ice Wolves Associate Coach Gaelan Patterson is expecting a wild environment.
“We’re looking forward to our fans being revved up and we’re going to put on a show for them,” said Patterson.
Following Tuesday’s matchup, the Ice Wolves host game four on Wednesday evening.
(PHOTO: The Ice Wolves dropped the second game of their series with the Terriers in Yorkton Saturday. Photo courtesy of Braden Malsbury.)