Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League

FRIDAY RECAPS

The Estevan Bruins’ fifth straight win also mathematically eliminated the Melville Millionaires from playoff contention on Friday, as the Bruins picked up a 5-1 road victory over the Mils.

Keenan Rancier made 30/31 saves to earn the win, while Devan Harrison (1g-1a), Caleb Petrie, Eddie Gallagher, Tanner Manz and Tyson Manz spread out the scoring.  The Bruins (26-21-3-1) are three points clear of eighth place Humboldt and all of a sudden aren’t that far back of the pack in front of them, three points behind Melfort for sixth, and five points out of a home ice position.

Luke Nkwama scored his 19th of the season for the Millionaires (15-29-2-4).

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The Flin Flon Bombers prevented the league leading Battlefords North Stars from clinching the first overall spot for at least another day, downing the Stars 6-1.

Mason Martin and Chase Haygarth each had a goal and two assists while Tristan Lemyre added three helpers.  Dane Hirst (1g-1a), Easton Haygarth and Donavan Houle-Villeneuve rounded out the scoring, and Jacob Delorme made 44/45 saves for the Bombers (34-12-5-0).

Austin Becker scored for the North Stars (42-9-2-0) and Kristian Lyon was busy making 52/58 saves.  The Stars have another chance to clinch top spot on Saturday as the two teams play a rematch at the Whitney Forum.

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Flin Flon’s 58 shots, were actually not the most in the league on Saturday, as the Humboldt Broncos threw 62 on goal against the Yorkton Terriers, but Yorkton came away with a 6-4 win, despite being out-shot 62-23.

Philippe Bond turned away 58/62 shots in goal for the Terriers (31-19-1-1).  Gavin Ingram scored his first two SJHL goals in the win, while Keenan Taphorn had a goal and two assists.  Steven Norum (1g-1a), Brett LeGrandeur and Jordan Guiney added the other goals.  With their fourth straight win, Yorkton’s getting some separation from the middle of the pack, currently in third spot, three points up on La Ronge, four ahead of Nipawin.

Tristan Shewchuk had a hat trick in a losing cause for the Broncos (22-21-7-2), giving him 28 goals on the season.  Defenseman Cody Hough added the other.  The Broncos remain in eighth place, now three points back of Estevan and Kindersley sits four points behind them with a game in hand.  The Klippers are in Humboldt on Family Day Monday afternoon.  Before that though, Humboldt hosts Nipawin and Kindersley’s home to Yorkton on Saturday.

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The La Ronge Ice Wolves are another team battling for home ice advantage, and they leapfrogged Nipawin back into fourth spot Saturday with their 3-1 win in Weyburn.

Xavier Cannon stopped 30 of the 31 shots he faced to earn the win, while Daylon Mannon got the Ice Wolves (28-19-3-1) on the board with his 33rd of the season, before Booker Chacalias and Spencer Kennedy added second period markers.

Dante Ballarin opened the scoring for the scoring for the Red Wings (19-30-1-2) and Douglas Wakelyn made 35/38 saves.  The math says the Wings are still alive, 12 points out of a playoff spot with six games left.  One more loss of any kind, or one more Humboldt point would change that.  La Ronge would end Notre Dame’s playoff hopes with a win on Saturday, when they wrap up their four games in five nights swing.