The Yorkton Terriers advanced to the Royal Bank Cup National Junior A Championship with a 6-3 win over the Vernon Vipers Saturday afternoon at Kal Tire Place.
Yorkton defenceman Tanner Lishchynsky opened the scoring on the powerplay from Devon McMullen and Tyson Enzie at 9:05 in the first.
The Vipers were 20 seconds away from killing a penalty when Lishchynsky sniped it blocker side.
The Terriers struck again a minute later as Daylan Gatzke threw a harmless shot on net from Tayler Thompson.
Lishchynsky was in the box for slashing when the Vipers cut the lead in half.
Vernon controlled the puck for nearly a minute when Brett Mulcahy tipped home a point shot from Jared Wilson at 15:47 in the first. Michael McNicholas picked up the second assist.
McNicholas got his second goal of the tournament on the powerplay from Dexter Dancs and Mason Blacklock, 1:36 into the second.
Vernon came close to taking the lead minutes later, but Terriers’ goaltender Kale Thomson pulled the puck off the line.
Dylan Johnson tipped home Norrish’s point shot as the Terriers regained the lead at 8:57 of the second period, making it 3-2 Yorkton.
Just as the Vipers killed Liam Coughlin’s roughing penalty, they got scored on again as Norrish fluttered one over a screened Austin Smith to give the Terriers a 4-2 lead.
Smith was yanked for Danny Todosychuk following the Terriers’ fourth goal. Smith allowed four goals on eight shots.
Todosychuk stopped 22 shots in relief.
The goaltending switch seemed to spark the Snakes as Dancs scored 12:58 into the second, from Demico Hannoun and McNicholas.
Yorkton added a pair of empty-net goals from Daylan Gatzke and Tayler Thompson, 30 seconds apart.
More to follow.
