Benny Walchuk:
It’s time once again for the Yorkton Terriers Coaches Show on GX94. I’m joined by head coach and GM Emery Olauson. Emery, your team split the opening games of the semifinal series with Battlefords. When you look back at that split, what do you take from it, and what needs to improve heading into this week?
Emery Olauson:
I liked how the series went in terms of chance generation, overall shots, and time spent in the offensive zone. It felt a lot like Games 1 and 2 against Melville. I thought we won the game where we didn’t play as well, and then in the game where we played really well, they tied it late and capitalized on a couple of mental slip-ups in our defensive zone. Credit to them—they made us pay for our mistakes.
Overall, when you look at the analytics—outshooting them and spending more time in their end—you feel like you’re doing a lot of things right. It’s about making small adjustments and cleaning up those mental errors before we hit the road. The first series helped prepare us for this. You’re not going to win every game, which is why it’s a best-of-seven. Both teams will make adjustments, and you’ll likely see a different version of each team in the next games. They get last change at home, which presents a challenge, but it’s one we look forward to.
Benny Walchuk:
You mentioned not wanting to change much, aside from matchups. Can you talk about your team on the road and the resilience you’ve shown away from home this season?
Emery Olauson:
We’ve had the best road record in the SJHL, and I think our guys embrace that challenge. We travel well, and our depth allows us to roll lines without getting too caught up in matchups. Sometimes those details can become a distraction, so it’s beneficial to just focus on playing our game.
Our home record is still slightly better, but not by much, and we’ve been consistent all season. Like the first round, we’re split after two games, and now the goal is to earn another split and turn it into a best-of-three. At that point, travel and home-ice advantage become even more important.
The timing has been good with a bit of rest, some meetings, video work, and a full practice. Now we’ll travel, get settled, and get ready to do it all over again.
Benny Walchuk:
Lastly, off the ice, Callum Craig was named an RBC Community Ambassador finalist. He’s been great for you in goal—nice to see him get recognition away from the rink as well.
Emery Olauson:
Absolutely. We have a lot of players who give back to the community, whether they’re local or from elsewhere. Callum stood out in terms of the time he’s committed, especially over the past two years working regularly with Dr. Brass and helping out with minor hockey.
When you look at the impact our players have in the community, you can see it reflected in our attendance. Those connections matter—kids and families build relationships with our players and want to come watch them play.
Our guys are great role models, and the volunteer work they do is incredibly valuable. Hopefully Callum gets the win—he certainly deserves it.
