SGEU MVP of the Month: Reilley Kotai, Melfort Mustangs
The league’s points leader started December on a tear rarely seen in the SJHL, to the tune of 15 points in four games from the last contest in November. He cooled off a touch to end the calendar year, but the Mustangs haven’t, as they took a league-high 15-game win streak into the new year.
Month Stats: 8 GP, 8 G, 4 A, 12 PTS
Bourgault Forward of the Month: Ethan Dekay, Weyburn Red Wings
The explosive Michigan Tech Division I commit Dekay remained durable and consistent through a bit of an injury/suspension crisis to end 2024 in Weyburn. The London, Ontario native notched points in seven of eight contests in December, four of which were multi-point outings, and is now third in league scoring despite arriving later in the year.
Month Stats: 8 GP, 5 G, 7 A, 12 PTS
SuperU Defenceman of the Month: Oakley McIlwain, Humboldt Broncos
The big-bodied, fleet-footed McIlwain clearly took his snub from Canada West at the Junior A World Challenge the right way, as he had points in all but one of Humboldt’s games in the month while maintaining his dominant shutdown role. The Broncos uncharacteristically struggled down the stretch in December, but the 2005 birth year did not and could be argued to be the SJHL’s best defender.
Month Stats: 8 GP, 4 G, 5 A, 9 PTS
Sasktel Goalie of the Month: Kristian Coombs, Melfort Mustangs
The Mustangs roster is indeed as deep and experienced as any team in the league, but Coombs still has done more than his part in their dominant run of results. His personal win streak is at 10 starts in a row, and he did not give up more than two goals in any game in December.
Month Stats: 7 starts, 7-0-0-0 record, 1.57 GAA, .931 SV%
IKS Media Rookie of the Month: Brett O’Halloran, Kindersley Klippers
Only Coombs has more goalie wins than Kindersley’s super rookie O’Halloran’s 13, and though veteran Cody Jaman is back healthy in the Klipper crease, the youngster has not missed a beat. Brett did not post a save percentage in December under .926.
Month Stats: 4 starts, 3-1-0-0 record, 1.76 GAA, .946 SV%
Canterra Seeds Saskatchewan Player of the Month: Ashton Tait, Nipawin Hawks (from Prince Albert, Sask)
It took the one-time Prince Albert Mintos star two months to get acclimatized to Nipawin and the SJHL, but he has arrived in force. Still only 18, the right winger had four and three-point games in December and has carried a big offensive load with the injury bug hitting key spots in the Hawks’ attack.
Month Stats: 8 GP, 4 G, 8 A, 12 PTS
