It was another great day of hockey at the Seven Oaks arena in Winnipeg as the 2nd and final day of the SJHL/MJHL Showcase took place with another trio of games on the schedule.
The day began with a battle between the two U20 teams who earned wins on Tuesday as SJHL Team Gold met MJHL Team. Team Gold played their best period in the 3rd Tuesday, and they would build off of it. SJHL leading goal scorer Kian Bell would break the ice in the first five minutes Wednesday and Dawson Leroux would find the back of the net in the final minute of the frame to give Gold a 2-0 lead after one. Gold would add four more goals in the 2nd period and would cruise to a 6-0 win. Kian Bell added two more to complete the hat-trick, Dawson Leroux added another, and Steven Kesslering would also found the scoresheet. Estevan Bruins goaltender Cam Hrdlicka was also superb in net for Gold, making 35 saves for the shutout. Kian Bell would earn Player of the Game honours as Team Gold finished the Showcase with a 2-0 record.
The 2nd game of the day saw Team SJHL White U20 face-off with Team MJHL Red U20. Both of these teams fell short Tuesday, so both sides were looking to finish the Showcase on a winning note. The two clubs would go back and forth in the opening stanza as Jeremi Tremblay of the Flin Flon Bombers would open the scoring just three minutes in. After the MJHL tied the game at one a few minutes later, Maguire Ratzlaff of the Nipawin Hawks would score his first of the Showcase to help restore the lead for the SJHL at 2-1. Sadly, the SJHL couldn’t hold on to that lead in the final 40 as the MJHL would score three unanswered goals and win 4-2. Humboldt Broncos forward Cage Newans was named the SJHL’s Player of the Game.
Finally, the 2023 edition of the SJHL/MJHL Showcase wrapped up with a re-match between the two U18 teams. After the SJHL found the back of the net five times Tuesday, they did three better Wednesday as they exploded for eight goals and walked away with an 8-2 win. The SJHL’s U18 team had seven different goal scorers in the victory. Flin Flon Bombers forward Alexi Sylvestre led the way with two goals and Matthew Van Blaricom, Jag Phangura, Xavier Roy, Carsten Kayter, Ty Mason, and Jackson Allan, all added a goal on the scoresheet. Goaltender James Venne of the Melfort Mustangs was also rock solid in between the pipes and as a result was named Player of the Game for the SJHL.
The SJHL finished the 2023 Showcase with a 4-2 record. We would like to thank our neighbours to the East for their amazing hospitality and congratulate them on hosting a fantastic event.
The SJHL regular season will resume Thursday night when the Notre Dame Hounds host the Battlefords North Stars. Puck drop is at 8pm.
