Yorkton Takes It To Kindersley Again

The Kindersley Klippers were out scored 14-2 in games one and two of the Sherwood Final.

Game one Kindersley was at least in the game and the score didn't tell the entire story, but game two was all Yorkton. The Terriers were all over Kindersley like a bunch of wild dogs.

Kindersley needed to get out to a better start than in game one and that didn't happen. They needed the first goal in the hockey game but instead Yorkton came out with all kinds of pressure off the hop, very similar to game one and would score the opening goal under two minutes into the game. Next thing you know it was three nothing Yorkton at the ten minute mark, chasing Klippers net minder Sean Cahill from the game. To make things worse, Yorkton would score with one second left in the first period on a absolute bomb from Jeremy Boyer from the point to make it four 4-0.

From their on out, it almost seemed as if Yorkton would just toy with the Klippers the rest of the game. Kindersley was better in the second period but they didn't really generate any high quality scoring chances. The chances they did get were easily stopped by Devin Peters, who looks very calm and collected in net so far in this series. From Peters out Yorkton has been great. Yorkton is one scary team on the rush, they make such crisp cross ice passes when entering the zone, and have the speed and skill to blow by the Klipper defense as we seen in games one and two. For Yorkton their were so many guys you could point out that were great in that hockey game, they really are a four line team, that also has a very solid back end.

I thought Jeremy Boyer was the best player on the ice last night, but one player I want to mention is Brant Remennda. What a pickup this was for Yorkton at the deadline. Nipawin head coach Doug Johnson raved to me how good he thought Brant was and how hard it was for his young club to be without him for the majority of the season due to injury. They had to trade him at the deadline to build for next year, but I am sure alot of teams are wishing they didn't pass on this guy. He has been dominate in all fashions so far this series.

For Kindersley the one positive in this game was the play of Justin McDonald when he came in on relief. He looked very solid making some big saves. The 18 year old rookie works his ass off day in and day out and he has come along greatly since the start of the season. I really think Mac will be the real deal in the SJHL, and he could get a start for game three in this series. As for Sean Cahill he certainly has has a rough two starts in net, but you cant point the finger on him as the entire team has looked completely out of sorts.

For game three their are so many things that need to be better for the Klippers. Number one their powerplay needs to figure it out. They were 0-9 in game two which is simply unacceptable. The Klippers may have won games down the stretch and against Weyburn where their PP stunk, but against Yorkton their PP needs to start clicking. With all the skill this team has and what we have seen at times from them on the powerplay throughout the season it's some what mind boggling to see them struggle with the man advantage.

The fact that the Klippers are coming home for games 3 and 4 is a huge boost, but just because they are coming home does not meant they are going to win games 3 and 4. They need a better start out the gate, better performances from their 20 year olds, they need to get better goaltending and they need to get their special teams going. If they get Calkins and Hoffman back for game three that helps their powerplay and  penalty kills immensely.

Overall though as ugly as things were in Yorkton the Klippers are not down and out in this series. How bad they got beat in Yorkton doesn't matter, all  that does is that they are down 2-0 in the series. You can forget the scores, and just focus on game three back at the WCEC. More to come leading up the Tuesdays game three.