The 2024-25 Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League campaign begins Friday, Sept. 20, and the hope emanating from the Yorkton Terriers is palpable.
Last season, the first at the Westland Arena for coach and general manager Emery Olauson, had its wild ups and downs. Still, there is no doubt that the second half was better than the first, and with a renewed energy and enthusiasm from the community and a large corps of returners, the Terriers feel they are a force to be reckoned with this time around.
Let’s take a look at some key numbers from the last regular season for the Terriers:
Record: 21-30-2-3 (47 pts, 10th place)
Special Teams: PP: 16.7% (11th); PK: 73.6% (12th)
Goal Differential: GF: 185 (7th); GA: 232 (10th); Diff: -47
Special Teams Frequency: Power-Play Opportunities: 275 (2nd); Times Shorthanded: 250 (10th)
Goaltender Stats from 23-24:
Ethan Farrow, 17-15-2, 3.60 GAA, .891 SV%, 0 SO
Adam Kelly, 0-5-1, 4.42 GAA, .878 SV%, 0 SO
Blake Sittler, 3-7-0 4.62 GAA, .863 SV%, 0 SO
Top Scorers from 23-24:
Jaron Desnoyers: 55GP, 18G, 32A, 50PTS
Anthony Domina: 50GP, 20G, 26A, 46PTS
David Coyle: 57GP, 23G, 22A, 45PTS
Anthony McIntosh: 51GP, 12G, 25A, 37PTS
Jeff Hammond: 44GP, 15G, 20A, 35PTS
Few teams in the league can return the experienced and cohesive firepower that the Terriers can. Three of its Top 5 scorers from last year are likely to return, and a slew of other potential breakout performers from a crop of players that Olauson partly inherited and partly brought in himself are expected to make the Yorkton offence a tough one to stop.
The biggest question for the Terriers is whether they can replace the minutes of the departed long-time Terrier and captain Tyson Perkins, veteran Quintin Unreiner, and star rookie Anthony McIntosh on the back end. They seem set at the No. 1 goaltender position in the presence of the vastly experienced Ethan Farrow.
SJHL Co-Director of Media Clark Munroe sat down with Coach Olauson ahead of the 24/25 season and got his thoughts on the upcoming year.
