The Yorkton Terriers are the first team through to the RBC Cup after they beat the host Dauphin Kings 5-4 Saturday night in the Western Canada Cup Championship game.
It was a back and forth contest all night with Yorkton never trailing, but Dauphin never going away until the dying seconds. Yorkton won on the strength of four goals by their main guy, Brett Boehm (6, 7, 8, & 9). Their only other scorer was Tayler Thompson (3). The Kings got goals from Dylan Butler (1), Tanner Butler (4), Brent Wold (6) and Brayden Cuthbert (1).
Fans really got their money's worth in tilt that almost seemed destined for overtime. Goalies made the saves they had to and both gave their team's a chance to win. Each goalie (Jordan Piccolino & Kale Thomson) faced 27 shots.
Power Plays were low. The affair might have been the best officiated one of the tournament. Dauphin ended the evening 0 for 2 on the Power Play while Yorkton was 1 for 1.
Player of the game awards went to Brett Boehm of the Terriers and Justin Valentino of the Kings.
Earlier in the day, the Spruce Grove Saints continued to roll and moved on to the second berth game for the RBC Cup following a 5-3 victory over the Coquitlam Express.
Coquitlam actually got off to a hot start, getting markers from Zach Hodder (2) and Cody Boyd (1). However after taking that 2-0 lead into the second period Spruce Grove woke up, scoring five unanswered goals, three in the second and two more in the third. Their tallies came from Dylan Hollman (2), Tristan Sieben (1), Jake Mykitiuk (2), Cameron Hughes (3) and Carson Samoridny. Canon Pieper (2) had a late goal for the Express in the third.
A scary incident in the second period as Spruce Grove’s goalie Kenny Cameron went down with an apparent right leg injury and was replaced by Tanner McCorriston. McCorriston played well though, he and Cameron combined for 22 saves on 25 shots. Spruce Grove had 38 shots on Gordie Defiel.
Power Play finished with the Saints going 1 for 7 while Coquitlam was 2 for 7. Player of the game awards went to Spruce Grove’s Cameron Hughes while Zach Hodder grabbed the honour for Coquitlam.
Yorkton is off to the RBC Cup, while the Dauphin Kings get a shot at redemption Sunday. It'll be a quick turnaround as they meet the Spruce Grove Saints in a battle for the final berth for the National Junior 'A' Tournament in Vernon BC next week. Game time Sunday is 4:00pm.
Story by Christian Laughland