Doug Falconer:
Coach, a convincing 4-1 win in Game 5 Saturday night against Melville—how important was it for your group to get back to that Terrier hockey identity?
Emery Olauson:
You know what, I think with maybe one exception, we’ve played to our identity for most of this series. Melville’s done a good job trying to take us out of what we do best, so I wouldn’t necessarily say we re-established it—but we were definitely better in Game 5 than in Game 4. We were more aggressive offensively and did a better job attacking. At the end of the day, though, it’s been a tight series. A lot of it has come down to goaltending—Spencer Dahl has been excellent in their wins, and Callum has been just as strong in ours. It’s been very evenly matched.
Doug Falconer:
Your power play capitalized twice in the second period, and that really seemed to shift the momentum. What did you like about the execution?
Emery Olauson:
Well, first off, the puck finally went in. Both goals came from shots at the top with good traffic in front, and that’s something we’ve been stressing—getting bodies to the crease and making it hard on their goaltender. We talk about filling the bucket with chances, getting our skate blades at the top of the crease, and playing a tough, physical offensive game. The guys did a better job of that. Our power play has been strong all year, and even in this series we felt it was only a matter of time. Credit to Melville—they’ve done a good job limiting us—but we were able to capitalize on a short stretch, and that ended up being the difference.
Doug Falconer:
You also brought in affiliates Trae Peterson and DJ Brass. What did you see from them stepping into a high-pressure playoff game?
Emery Olauson:
They’ve been around our group and practicing with us, so they’re already part of the Terriers family. We felt it was a good opportunity to add some energy and a different look to our lineup. Both are highly skilled offensive players, and they bring size as well, which fits how we want to play. I thought they handled themselves really well, especially given the circumstances—big crowd, tight checking, and every shift matters. They played with a lot of composure, like they’ve been in those situations before. With their experience at the U18 level and beyond, they’ve seen meaningful games, and it showed. They gave us added depth, which was important.
Doug Falconer:
Now you head into Melville for Game 6 with a chance to close out the series. What’s the mindset, and what will be the key on the road?
Emery Olauson:
We’ve been a process-driven team all year. As soon as you start focusing on results or outcomes, that’s when you can get off track. For us, it’s about sticking to what we do—being a little better each day, being prepared, and executing our game plan. Melville is a tough building to win in. Their fans are loud, they bring energy, and we know it’ll be a challenge. But that’s what playoff hockey is all about, and we’re looking forward to it.
