The La Ronge Ice Wolves are the SJHL’s hottest team, now 5-0-1 in their last six games, 12-3-2 in their last 17, and they swept the Nipawin Hawks over the weekend, capped with an 8-2 win on the road on Saturday night.
Newcomer Xavier Cannon got the start in goal on back to back nights, coming off a shutout on Friday, and he stopped 33 of 35 in Saturday’s win.
It was 2-1 La Ronge after the first period, 3-2 after two, before they exploded for six goals in the third. Jordan Mish led the Ice Wolves (19-14-2-2), while Kevin Fillier (first SJHL goal), Jake Gudjonson, Kyle Ford, Nolan Doell and Daylon Mannon all had a goal and an assist, and Stewart Pond added his first of the season.
Zach Cox and Jordan Simoneau did the scoring for the Hawks (17-14-2-0), who’ve now dropped three in a row.
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Tristan Lemyre continued his hot streak with a hat trick, giving him five goals in two games in Battlefords on the weekend, while Alec Malo had five assists, giving him 50 helpers in 33 games this season, and the second overall Flin Flon Bombers racked up a 10-1 victory over the Battlefords North Stars. (Only three players in the league have more points, than Malo has assists)
Cole Rafuse (2g-1a) and Mason Martin (1g-2a) added three point nights, while Jaxon White, Easton Haygarth, Matt Raymond and Matt Flodell also picked up goals. And despite the lopsided result, the Bombers were actually out-shot by the Stars 34-31, and Jacob Delorme made 33/34 saves in the win.
Elijah Loon-Stewardson scored for the Stars late in the third period.
The Bombers (23-7-4-0) are all of a sudden within six points of the first place North Stars (27-6-2-0) and have a game in hand. Flin Flon has a home and home with La Ronge next weekend to finish off their pre-Christmas schedule.
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There were a handful of lopsided scores on Saturday, and it was no exception in Humboldt, where the Broncos beat the Melville Millionaires 6-1.
Brett Mirwald, a 16-year-old call-up from the ‘AAA’ Midget Saskatoon Blazer, made his SJHL debut and all he did was turn away 46 of the 47 shots he faced to earn the victory.
Logan Foster (2g-1a) and Braiden Koran each scored twice, while Doug Scott scored his first SJHL goal and added two assists. Jackson Bohan also scored and Karter McNarland added three assists as the Broncos (16-13-3-2) scored five powerplay goals on 11 opportunities.
Max McPeak did the scoring for the Millionaires (11-18-2-4), who are the league’s first team to hit the Christmas break, a week before most teams, as they’re now off until December 30th when they’ll host Yorkton to start their annual New Year’s home and home.
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It was a tough weekend for the Melfort Mustangs, who came up empty on a trip to Weyburn and Estevan with a couple close losses.
The Estevan Bruins got by Melfort 3-1 on Saturday.
Griffin Asham-Moroz had another nice night with a goal and an assist, while Tanner Manz and Tyler Savage also scored, and Keenan Rancier backstopped the Bruins (13-15-2-1) with a 31/32 save performance.
Dylan Ashe did the scoring for the Mustangs (20-11-2-1) and Tanner Martin made 20/23 saves.
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Despite both being in the bottom half of the standings, the Kindersley Klippers and Weyburn Red Wings were two of the hotter teams in the league coming into the weekend, as the Klippers were without a regulation loss in their last eight (snapped Friday in Estevan) and Weyburn had won three in a row.
On Saturday, the Klippers got back on the winning track, ending Weyburn’s streak with a 4-1 decision.
Jacob Schnapp scored twice, Scott McKenzie and Mac Gross each had a goal and an assist, and Matt Sanker picked up the win, stopping 33 of 34 shots for the Klippers (14-16-5-1).
Nikolas Sombrowski scored the only goal for the Red Wings (11-18-2-4), and Noah Decottignies did his part, making 43/46 saves.
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The Yorkton Terriers won their third straight game, 5-1 over Notre Dame.
Alec Zawatsky and Kurri Woodford each had a goal and an assist for the Terriers (21-14-1-0), while Chantz Petruic added his 38th goal and 71st point of the season. Carson Henry found the net, and Colby Vranai notched his first SJHL goal into an empty net. Philippe Bond picked up his first victory since November 12th, with a solid 37/38 save performance.
Cole Stevenson replied for Notre Dame (13-18-3-1).
