A dramatic overtime finish in the Highway 10 rivalry highlighted a busy Friday night around the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League, as playoff spots were clinched, divisions decided, and the postseason picture came further into focus.
Terriers Win Division in OT Classic
The Yorkton Terriers captured the Bunge Division thanks to a thrilling 4-3 overtime win over the Melville Millionaires.
Gabriel Courchesne scored his 33rd of the season just 3:24 into overtime to seal the victory in the seventh meeting of the Highway 10 rivalry this season.
The teams traded goals through the first two periods before William Leonard’s second of the night gave Yorkton a 3-2 lead midway through the third. Hudson Binder responded with his 16th to tie the game before Courchesne ended it in overtime.
Ryder McDonald also scored for Yorkton, while Yibin Yoo and Keil Schmalz added goals for Melville. The single point secured the Millionaires the seventh seed heading into the playoffs.
The teams wrap up their regular seasons Saturday in Yorkton.
Bruins Punch Their Playoff Ticket
The Estevan Bruins locked up the final playoff spot with a 5-2 win over the Weyburn Red Wings.
Colton Getzlaff scored twice, including the late second-period goal that swung momentum in Estevan’s favour. Ewan Rennie, Lochlan Tetarenko and Cash Olson also scored.
Aidan Mohan and Turner McIntyre replied for Weyburn.
With the win, the Bruins will face the Flin Flon Bombers in round one, while Weyburn will meet the Nipawin Hawks.
Despite a 3-1 road win over the Warman Wolverines, the Humboldt Broncos were officially eliminated from playoff contention. Kristian Lacelle scored twice in the victory.
Bombers Finish Nearly Perfect at Home
The league-leading Flin Flon Bombers wrapped up their regular season home schedule in dominant fashion with a 3-1 win over the La Ronge Ice Wolves.
Flin Flon outshot La Ronge 47-11 and finished the year with an incredible 27-0-1 home record.
Nathan Lalumiere, Kyle Marsden and Reid Arberry scored for the Bombers, while Waylon Gardipy had the lone goal for La Ronge. Graham Brown was outstanding in the Ice Wolves net, stopping 44 shots.
North Stars Stay in the Race for Second
The Battlefords North Stars kept their hopes of finishing second overall alive with a 4-1 win over the Kindersley Klippers.
Owen Nelson led the way with a goal and an assist, while Anthony Campbell, Kaleb Dewar and Adam Konowalchuk also scored. Kaenan Serpa made 19 saves in the win.
Battlefords will need a Yorkton regulation or overtime loss on Saturday to claim second place. A Terriers win would leave the North Stars third and set up a first-round matchup with the defending champion Melfort Mustangs.
Russ Demo scored the lone goal for Kindersley in their final game of the season.
Elsewhere Friday night, the Nipawin Hawks hammered the Melfort Mustangs 8-2.
