With the Terriers and Millionaires looking to write another chapter in their storied rivalry between the Parkland's two rival cities, here is a look at some of the key matchups that will define who takes the bragging rights in the SJHL Finals.
Kale Thomson vs. Isaiah Plett
Last year's Sherwood Final saw the goaltending duel of Dawson MacAuley and Alex Wakaluk between the pipes as the future Regina Pats goaltender in MacAuley stepped up his game to take the win over the SJHL MVP in Wakaluk during the six game series. Now with MacAuley out of the picture in Yorkton and Wakaluk out of Melville the duel will be between 2013/14 SJHL Goaltender of the Year Kale Thomson and Millionaires goaltender Isaiah Plett as before the series the Terriers will be claiming they have the goaltending edge this season.
Both in their last Junior eligible seasons as 1993 born players, Thomson held the edge in all statistical categories in the regular season. Thomson finished with a record of 31-11-3 with a GAA of 1.89 a SV% of .934 and a league record eight regular season shutouts to deservedly be named the league's best goaltender after regaining his starting role from MacAuley from Day One this season after the younger Dawson left for the WHL this year.
Meanwhile Plett had a solid year in coming from the Winnipeg Blues from the Manitoba Junior Hockey League to the Millionaires, earning 28 wins while racking up 13 regulation losses and four shootout defeats. His GAA was much higher than Thomson's mark at 2.37 and after missing Game Five of the Millionaires series with Battlefords due to illness Melville fans will be hoping that head coach Jaime Fiesel isn't hiding anything about his starting goaltender's absence and that the starter Plett can go from Game One forward even if backup Richard Palmer earned Melville their series clinching win with Plett sitting out.
Brett Boehm vs. Kelvin Walz
Unlike last year's series between the Terriers and Mils where Melville had several Top 10 and Top 20 scoreres from the regular season including snipers Ian McNulty amongst others it will be Yorkton who has the elite goalscorer that Melville will have to find production to match as midseason trade pick up Brett Boehm gives Yorkton an added X-Factor in the series.
Boehm finished second in scoring in the SJHL with 66 points, scoring 31 goals and providing 35 assists over the course of the season that was spent mostly in Yorkton after being acquired from Flin Flon. The SJHL's 2012/13 rookie of the Year is off to play in the NCAA next season, but with six goals to his name already in the playoffs it appears he wants to leave the Saskatchewan Junior ranks with a bang.
Melville's best chance of matching Boehm's production will be Kelvin Walz, a 20 goalscorer in the regular season who has made it his mission to set up the Mils during the playoffs despite a nine game goalscoring drought. Walz has a remarkable 11 assists and if he can find a way to get goals will be a huge part of Melville's attempt to upset the defending champions in this Canalta Cup series.
Tayler Thompson vs.
Colin Mospanchuk
Next down the list in leading scorers on both the Terriers and Mils are two players who had to sit out of their teams respective semifinal celebrations after being sidelined due to injury for their Game Five wins.
Melville tough guy and one of four returning Mils from last year's team Colin Mospanchuk turned into an all around player this year, stepping up to score 20 goals and took on a captain's role for the new look team this year before missing Game Five and will be needed back in the fold to provide his first hand experience on the Terriers should Melville look to win their first ever SJHL title.
Meanwhile Tayler Thompson continued his homecoming with his hometown team since coming back to the SJHL from the Prince George Cougars a couple of seasons ago, naturally improving on a strong championship season last year with a breakout in his final Junior year. Thompson finished fourth in the league in scoring, doing most of his damage as a playmaking center with 38 assists to go along with 23 goals thanks to some breathtaking stickhandling ability at times.
Thompson's work on the penalty kill and one faceoffs would also be missed as he is a crucial first line player on the Yorkton PK, making the return of both players a huge narrative in this series. If one of the two can't return to the lineup coaches Trent Cassan and Jamie Fiesel will both have to juggle their lines to find help elsewhere.
Fans vs Fans
Home ice is extremely important to both teams in this series as the Farrell Agencies Arena and Horizon Credit Union Centre are two of the toughest barns to visit in the SJHL.
Yorkton lost just six times at home all year while the Millionaires lost 11 of their game in their new building this year, both teams riding that strong play at home to first and second in their division respectively.
In the playoffs both teams have just one home loss apiece as well, making defending their own backyard extremely important for both teams in this final.
With games expected to be sold out every night and fans from both cities expected to travel and support their team the home ice advantage may be a wash, but don't expect either city and their fanbases to not try to unnerve their opponents when they visit with civic pride on the line.
Holding the home ice advantage, the Terriers could win the series by simply defending home ice. Don't count on them to fall back on that, as whoever silences the crowd first on the road with a win may take this series.
