SGEU MVP of the Year/Borgault AG Forward of the Year
Kian Bell, Battlefords North Stars
The winner of the 2023/24 SGEU MVP of the year, from the Battlefords North Stars, forward Kian Bell! Kian wins the award for the second season in a row and helped the Stars from around .500 hockey to start the year to a record of 30-10-4-0 since he returned in late October. He is also the winner of the 2023/24 Bourgault Forward of the Year, with a league-leading 57 assists and 94 points this season, from the Battlefords North Stars Kian Bell! Bell is the first player to win the scoring race in back-to-back seasons since Travis Mayan of the Melfort Mustangs did it between 2014 and 2016.
Canterra Seeds Saskatchewan Player of the Year
Spencer Bell, Humboldt Broncos
The winner of the first ever Canterra Seeds Saskatchewan Player of the Year, awarded to the top Saskatchewanian player in the league, from the Humboldt Broncos and Warman, SK, it’s Spencer Bell! Spencer led the SJHL in goals this year with 47, and finished second in points only to Kian Bell with 88! Bell is committed to St. Lawrence University of NCAA Division I for next year.
SuperU Defenceman of the Year
Noah Houle, Flin Flon Bombers
The winner of the 2023/24 SuperU Defenceman of the Year, with a league-leading 68 points from a blue liner, from the Flin Flon Bombers Noah Houle! Houle’s 68 points are the most by a defenceman in the SJHL since Josh McDougall of the Nipawin Hawks posted 74 in the 2017-18 season! Noah is committed to Lindenwood University of NCAA Division I for next year.
SaskTel Goaltender of the Year
Harmon Laser-Hume, Flin Flon Bombers
The winner of the 2023/24 SaskTel Goaltender of the Year, from the Flin Flon Bombers Harmon Laser-Hume! Harmon finished in the Top 3 in the league in wins, goals-against-average and shutouts. Laser-Hume was also the SaskTel Goaltender of the Month back in November.
DirectWest Rookie of the Year
Carson Olsen, Battlefords North Stars
The winner of the 2023/24 DirectWest Rookie of the Year, from the Battlefords North Stars Carson Olsen! A commitment of the University of Massachusetts at Lowell of NCAA Division I, Olsen finished the season with 30 points and an impressive +23 rating. The 2006-born Warman, SK native was also only one of two rookie defencemen to hit double digits in goals this season.
Star Egg Most Sportsmanlike Player
Mason Bueckert, La Ronge Ice Wolves
The winner of the 2023/24 Star Egg Most Sportsmanlike Player of the Year, from the La Ronge Ice Wolves, Mason Bueckert! The Saskatoon, SK native posted 20 goals and 62 points while taking only a meagre 12 penalty minutes, 10 of which on one misconduct in January!
Saskatchewan Construction Safety Association Coach of the Year
Mike Reagan, Flin Flon Bombers
The winner of the 2023/24 Saskatchewan Construction Safety Association Coach of the Year, from the Flin Flon Bombers, Mike Reagan! The Flin Flon-local guided the Bombers to a club-high 44-9-2-1 record, their third Sherwood Division Title in the last four years, and the No. 1 seed throughout the post-season!
*All Stats as of March 9, 2023*
SGEU MVP OF THE YEAR
Kian Bell, Battlefords North Stars
It has been an unforgettable season for Battlefords North Stars forward Kian Bell. The 19-year-old forward has played a major role in the Stars not just being the 1st place team in the SJHL, but one of the top teams in the country. Bell surpassed the 50-goal plateau before hitting the 50 games played mark and going into the final week of the regular season 1st in the league in points with 96.
RBC PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Kian Bell, Battlefords North Stars
52 goals in 49 games doesn't happen often in the SJHL and for his superb efforts Kian Bell has also been voted as RBC Player of the Year. Bell also has 10 game winning goals so far this season. Going into the final week of the regular season, Bell is also averaging 1.96 points per game.
SASKTEL GOALIE OF THE YEAR
Josh Kotai, Battlefords North Stars
You couldn't ask for a better first season in the SJHL for 19-year-old Josh Kotai of the Battlefords North Stars. His record speaks for itself. 31-4-0-2 going into the final weekend of the regular season. His solid and consistent play also played a major role in him earning an NCAA Division I commitment to Augustana.
DIRESTWEST ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
Riley Ashe, Melfort Mustangs
The 2022-2023 rookie class in the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League has been outstanding, and earning DirectWest Rookie of the Year honours is 16-year-old Riley Ashe of the Melfort Mustangs. The Mustangs rookie was elevated to a major role in first year in the league, consistently being in Melfort's top 6. Going into the final weekend of the year, Ashe has 8 goals and 30 assists.
SUPERU DEFENSEMAN OF THE YEAR
Tynan Ewart, Battlefords North Stars
Leading the charge offensively all year from the blue line has been 20-year-old Tynan Ewart of the Battlefords North Stars. Heading into the final weekend of the regular season, the Duncan, B.C product has 7 goals and 47 assists and is one of a handful of defenseman to be above a point per game. Not only has Ewart been producing offensively for the Stars, he has also been an anchor on the blue line for the 1st place Stars.
FEDERATED CO-OP MOST SPORSTMANLIKE PLAYER
Tylin Hilbig, Kindersley Klippers & Zander Stewart, Nipawin Hawks
It's only fitting that the only award this season to finish in a tie and produce two winners is the Most Sportsmanlike. Both Tylin Hilbig of the Kindersley Klippers and Zander Stewart of the Nipawin Hawks have been recognized for being some of the most sportsmanlike players in the SJHL, while also playing significant roles with their respective clubs. Hilbig, a 19-year-old power forward has led the charge offensively for the Klippers this season, all while only having 37 penalty minutes. Stewart on the other hand, has logged many hard minutes for the Nipawin Hawks this year, has produced offensively, and has just 12 penalty minutes.
SASKATCHEWAN CONSTRUCTION SAFETY ASSOCIATION COACH OF THE YEAR
Brayden Klimosko, Battlefords North Stars
For the 3rd year in a row Brayden Klimosko has been named Saskatchewan Construction Safety Association Coach of the Year. The North Stars run at the top of the SJHL standings during the 22/23 regular season has been nothing short of incredible. No regulation losses until the 2023 portion of the schedule, and 15 weeks as the #1 team in the CJHL.
RBC PLAYER OF THE YEAR
SGEU MOST VALUABLE PLAYER
SASKTEL TOP GOALTENDER
Rayce Ramsay, Humboldt Broncos
The Directwest commitment to the University of Toronto of USports continues to add to his accolades after his remarkable season yielded an SJHL single-campaign record 41 wins, a feat the Saskatoon native was able to accomplish in 50 starts. Ramsay's goals-against average of 1.98 and save percentage of .930 were tops in the league among true starters, and his minutes played were a full 388 more than his closest competitor.
A 2001-born goaltender, Ramsay broke into the league as a 17-year-old with the Broncos in the 18-19 SJHL season and would parlay that earned spot into a full season in the Western Hockey League in 19-20 with the Kamloops Blazers. The now-21-year-old elected to return to Humboldt for his final junior season and has not skipped a beat, helping to lead Humboldt to the No. 2 seed in the league and a Top 20 ranking in Canada throughout the campaign.
RBC TOP FORWARD
DIRECTWEST ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
SJHL TOP SCORER
Connor McGrath, Humboldt Broncos
A Directwest commit to Ferris State University (NCAA Div 1) and listed as the 128th-ranked North American skater by NHL Central Scouting ahead of the 2022 National Hockey League draft, McGrath has been dominant this year from the start. The SJHL's leading scorer with 84 points in 56 games, the 2003-born sniper had the two-longest point-scoring streaks during the regular campaign, with a 14-game heater from late November to mid-January, and a 12-gamer from late October to mid-November.
From LeRoy, SK, a town 20 minutes from Humboldt, McGrath was dealt from the Weyburn Red Wings to his near-hometown club in the last off-season. An alumnus of the Humboldt Broncos minor hockey system, he also spent time with the CSSHL's Prairie Hockey Academy of Caronport, SK, and the Moose Jaw Warriors U18AAA in the Saskatchewan U18 provincial league.
McGrath's 22 power-play assists and 33 power-play points were both tops in the league, while his points, assists, and game-winning goals totals were the most among SJHL rookies.
MAYFAIR DIAGNOSTICS TOP DEFENSEMAN
Xavier Lapointe, Flin Flon Bombers
The Directwest Commit to NCAA Division I Rochester Institute of Technology dominated the SJHL from the start this year, ending up with 19 goals and 50 points – both the best in the league among defencemen - while playing in all 58 games on the Bombers’ back end. A 2002-born native of Quebec City, QC, Lapointe joined the Bombers from Janesville Jets of the North American Hockey League ahead of the season and was a key reason why Flin Flon held the best goal differential in the Sherwood in 21-22 at plus-48.
Before his time with the Bombers and Jets, Lapointe played prep school hockey in Nova Scotia with Newbridge Academy in Dartmouth. The fleet-footed two-way defender plans to attend R.I.T. next year.
SGEU MOST SPORTSMANLIKE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Ryland McNinch, Battlefords North Stars
The Captain of the Battlefords North Stars helped lead his team back into the playoffs for the final season of his SJHL career. McNinch had career highs in every category with 17 goals and 25 assists, amounting to 42 points in just 52 games this season. The 6’0 180lbs forward also brought a physical element to his game, and yet remained extremely discipline, with just 20 PIMS throughout the whole year.
The Turtleford, Saskatchewan product has committed to Red Deer Polytechnic (ACAC) for the 2022/23 season.
SCSA (Saskatchewan Construction Safety Association) COACH OF THE YEAR
Brayden Klimosko, Battlefords North Stars
The SJHL-championship coach the last time there was a winner in the 2018-19 campaign, Klimosko’s Stars were the best team in the league before the pandemic shut it down in 2019-2020. Working with an almost entirely rebuilt club this season, the young and plucky Stars still managed 35 wins, and a fourth-seed heading into the post-season under the tutelage of Klimosko, and without the same star-power as the teams around them in the standings.
The list of players who have vastly improved under Klimosko is large, and his reputation as a competitive yet supremely classy individual is solidified and clear throughout the SJHL.
A Humboldt native, and a beloved alumnus of his hometown team, his team is routinely one of, if not the hardest playing and competing groups in the SJHL, all the while the respect and friendliness Brayden and his assistant Gary Childerhose show wherever they go is a credit to the Battlefords organization, and the league as a whole.
2021-22 SASKMILK ALL-ROOKIE TEAM
Goaltender - Kael DePape ('03), Yorkton Terriers
Only one goalie played more minutes this season than Yorkton native, Kael DePape. DePape’s breakout season was a driving factor to the Yorkton Terriers making it to the SJHL Semi Finals. He finished the regular season 22-15-0-5, with a 2.32 GAA and .915 SV% to go along with 4 shutouts. His impressive rookie season led him to be named the Viterra Division’s Goaltender of the Year and Rookie of the Year.
Forward - Kevin Anderson ('03), Notre Dame Hounds
Anderson, the youngest captain in the SJHL, was the heart and soul of the Notre Dame Hounds who made their way back to the playoffs. The Directwest Princeton University (NCAA DIV I) commit finished second in the league, among all skaters, with 79 points (30g,49a) while finding his name on the stat sheet on an absurd 41% of his team’s goals throughout the season.
Forward - Connor McGrath ('03), Humboldt Broncos
Winning the SJHL’s scoring title is an impressive feat, doing it as a rookie is on another level. McGrath was able to accomplish that with an 84-point performance (35g,49a) in his first full year in the SJHL. Another Directwest NCAA DIV I commit; McGrath was able to book his future ticket to Ferris State University thanks to his impressive season. The LeRoy, SK native also led the league with 33 powerplay points.
Forward - Jeremi Tremblay ('03), Flin Flon Bombers
Although SJHL fans weren’t blessed to observe talents of Jeremi Tremblay throughout a full season, when he was on the ice, he was among the best rookies in the SJHL. Tremblay finished just shy of a point-per-game pace, picking up 35 points (16g,19a) in just 37 games. His abilities when dressed for the Bombers were evident. The all-around offensive threat was another Directwest commitment, committing to Sacred Heart University (NCAA DIV I) despite playing just over half the season. He finished 15 points back of the team-lead, while playing 21 games fewer.
Defenseman - Parker Jasper ('03), Yorkton Terriers
A bright young defenseman that maybe didn’t get as much recognition as he deserved throughout the season. The Regina native collected a very respectable 28 points (2g,26a) in 51 games this season. However, he only had two points in his first 19 games, finishing the year with nearly a point-per-game production. That development throughout his rookie year is surely a sign of what’s to come for the young Terriers’ blueliner.
Defenseman - Jared Sych ('03), Notre Dame Hounds
The fourth and final NCAA DIV I committed player on this year’s All-Rookie team, Jared Sych was the minute-munching pulse of the Hounds’ blueline. The Directwest commit to Mercyhurst University finished his first full season with 35 points (7g,28a) in 58 games, 5th among all defensemen. Routinely playing close to 30 minutes a game, the 6’2 defenseman balances his defensive stability with the offensive talent that would make all 12 coaches drool for a player of his regard.
RBC PLAYER OF THE YEAR / SGEU MOST VALUABLE PLAYER
Chantz Petruic, Yorkton Terriers
The SJHL’s RBC Player Of The Year, and SGEU Most Valuable Player this season goes to this year’s league scoring champion, Chantz Petruic of the Yorkton Terriers. Petruic had a healthy lead in the goals and points department from start to finish this season, moving into some rare company, eclipsing both the 50-goal and 100-point plateaus in his 20-year-old campaign, and through 156 career games, he had 234-points, including 107-goals in the better part of three full seasons.
Petruic says he set some big goals and targets for himself this off-season. “In the summer I knew I’d have to work hard and take care of my body. I set goals before the season. I knew I could dominate and I really put a lot of pressure on myself to do that. It felt pretty amazing to get it done.”
Heading into the playoffs with home ice advantage in round one, and coming off an impressive winning streak, much of which was with Petruic out of the lineup late in the season, the Terrier Captain says he doesn’t feel like he has to do it all himself, as the supporting cast has been added to, and became better and better as the season wore on. "Our young guys have been unbelievable, they have fit right in and have been very impactful in our success. Bond has been awesome for us in the pipes too. It’s impressive how mature our rookies play, and getting Zawatsky and the Taphorn’s WHL experience in our lineup has been huge. need to learn how to compete every night no matter what the opponent is. Every team can win."
The Moose Jaw product played one year of WHL hockey with his hometown Warriors so isn’t eligible for NCAA hockey, but is sure to have plenty of suitors in the Canadian University and professional ranks for next season.
“As for next year. Plans are still up in the air. Waiting until the end of the season to make a decision and at the end of the day it’s what makes most sense for me, and where I feel comfortable.”
MAYFAIR DIAGNOSTICS TOP DEFENSEMAN
Matthew Fletcher, Battlefords North Stars
For the second straight season the Battlefords North Stars have the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League’s top defenceman in their midst as team captain Matthew Fletcher has been named the Mayfair Diagnostics Defenceman of the Year for 2019-20.
Fletcher, who was a teammate of Cody Spagarud when the latter won the award last year, has enjoyed a spectacular final season of junior hockey. Having played in every game this year, Fletcher has accumulated 11 goals and 35 assists in helping the North Stars lead the league from start to finish and secure home-ice advantage for as long as they are in the playoffs.
A Saskatoon product, Fletcher has nearly doubled his output from last season and in the final voting was selected as the award winner over Devan Harrison from the Estevan Bruins and Alex Rondeau of the Melfort Mustangs.
A veteran of more than 150 games Fletcher will be counted on heavily as the North Stars try to successfully defend the Canalta Cup championship they claimed last spring. His leadership, durability and experience are strengths every team needs and Fletcher has consistently shown he brings everything he has to each and every game.
SASKTEL TOP GOALTENDER
Berk Berkeliev, Melville Millionaires
It’s been a roller coaster of a season for 19-year-old Melville goalie Berk Berkeliev, but he’s capping it with the SaskTel SJHL Goalie Of The Year award.
Berkeliev was in a collision just two games into the season that left him in hospital for multiple days with a concussion and facial injuries, and out of action for about two months, between September 14th and November 8th. Despite it all, and being on a Melville team at the bottom of the standings this season, Berkeliev has the league’s top save percentage (.928%) among active goalies, and a sub-3.00 (2.83) goals against average. He also has 11-wins, including one shutout this season, and is poised to take another run at the league award next season, eligible to come back as a 20-year-old.
“Yes this season definitely hasn’t come without its challenges, but I just tried to make the most of every day. I obviously had a tough recovery from the injury that many know about, and I owe a lot to my family, friends, teammates, and coaches for supporting me and helping keep me level-headed during a tough time. I know our group isn’t ending the season how we wanted to, but I’m still really proud of all the guys on competing hard every night and trying to stay positive. This isn’t an easy league to play in, and there is a lot of really talented players and goalies, so winning this award is really exciting and a huge honour.”
DIRECTWEST ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
Tristan Lemyre, Flin Flon Bombers
2001 F Tristan Lemyre (Mirabel PQ) has, simply, been one of the most dominating offensive 18-year-old rookies in the SJHL in recent memory. Lemyre battled an injury that caused him to miss the entire month of October, yet he has still managed to put a wide distance between himself and other first year players as far as scoring statistics are concerned.
Lemyre (as of February 27th) has 29-goals and 32-assists in 43-games, which marks a 13-point lead over the second highest scoring rookie despite the fact he missed 12-games. Furthermore, Lemyre is the second highest scoring player in the entire league since December 1st (behind only Chantz Petruic) and the NCAA has taken notice as Lemyre accepted a scholarship to the University of Denver last month.
Flin Flon head coach Mike Reagan says, "We are very proud of Tristan and the adversity he has faced this year with his injury that kept him out of the line-up for the first part of the season and prevented him from probably making Canada West (World Junior 'A' Challenge). He is one of the most committed players to the game that I have coached in my 13 years here in Flin Flon. His speed and nose for the net is tremendous. He has been a huge part of our success this year and we feel he has a very bright future in front of him."
SJHL TOP SCORER
CHANTZ PETRUIC, YORKTON TERRIERS
CANALTA HOTELS COACHES OF THE YEAR - KEVIN KAMINSKI & BRAYDEN KLIMOSKO
KEVIN KAMINSKI, LA RONGE ICE WOLVES
After missing the playoffs in each of the last three seasons the La Ronge Ice Wolves were looking for someone to lead them in a different direction when they made a coaching change at the end of the 2018-19 campaign.
It certainly looks like they selected the right person as Ice Wolves’ head coach and general manager Kevin Kaminski has been picked as a co-winner of the Canalta Hotels Coach of the Year Award for the 2019-20 season.
“We had a quick meeting at practise this morning (Tuesday) and I thanked all the players for making this happen,” said Kaminski. “We got off to an 0-5 start because they found ways to lose instead of finding ways to win and then they bought in to what we said and started to believe in themselves.”
Kaminski shares the award with Battlefords North Stars head coach Brayden Klimosko and the rookie La Ronge bench boss was quick to pass on his congratulations to his rival.
“The Battlefords have been the most consistent team all season and I want to pass on a huge congratulations to Brayden,” says Kaminski.
Kaminski returned to his native Saskatchewan last summer after spending the last three decades south of the border, first as a player at various professional levels, including 139 games in the National Hockey League, and then as a coach beginning as an assistant to Mike Babcock with the Cincinnati Mighty Ducks in 2000-01.
This isn’t Kaminski’s first coach-of-the-year accolades as he was also named the top coach in 2008-09 when he was in charge of the Mississippi Riverkings of the Central Hockey League. He has also had stints behind the bench in Long Beach, Missouri, Youngstown, Louisiana and most recently Fresno, but he has relished the opportunity of being closer to home.
“I really want to thank the board of directors for giving me this opportunity and having faith in me to turn this thing around,” says Kaminski.
Turn things around indeed!
The Ice Wolves enter the final weekend of the regular season with a 31-19-3-3 record and are in a heated battle with the Yorkton Terriers, Melfort Mustangs and Nipawin Hawks to try and nail down a top-four spot so that they can have home-ice advantage for the quarter-final round.
Those 31 wins are three more than the Ice Wolves cumulatively posted in the last three years and it is also the most victories by a La Ronge team in a single season in nearly a decade. Kaminski responded with “that’s cool” when informed of the drastic improvement turned in by his team, but he also quickly deflected the credit to his assistant coach Gaelan Patterson and head scout Rob Fiola.
“This is a we program and a we team; Patty (Patterson) deserves as much credit as me – he has a great future in the game,” says Kaminski.
With the Ice Wolves making their first playoff appearance in four years Kaminski wants to try and make that experience last as long as possible.
“Whoever we play we are going to be prepared,” says the Churchbridge, Sask., native. “We will be as prepared as a coaching staff can be and then it is up to the players.”
“We’re a team that has been hungry all year,” adds Kaminski. “We do our best to go to war for each other.”
BRAYDEN KLIMOSKO, BATTLEFORDS NORTH STARS
Second year bench boss Brayden Klimosko, of the Battlefords North Stars, has been named a co-winner for Canalta Hotels Coach of the Year by his peers.
Klimosko led the Stars to a 35-13-5-and-5 record last year and then took the team to the Canalta Cup title. He followed that up with a 44-9-and-2 ledger in 2019-20 as of Monday, February 24th.
How Klimosko gets his team ready each and every night hasn’t gone unnoticed by Yorkton coach Mat Hehr. “His teams are always very well prepared. He also does a great job at adjusting in-game to counteract what other teams do. They always are extremely hard working and he pushes them to work as a team playing a 200 foot game for the full 60 minutes.”
Estevan’s Chris Lewgood is especially impressed with Klimosko, saying that, “He’s honest with his players all the time and that’s not always the popular way to be. Yet, he seems to have a group that loves playing for him. His humility is evident and yet he approaches every aspect of the job with a great deal of earned confidence. He trusts his players and allows them to make mistakes while teaching the right way to do things at the same time. This really helps his players meet their potential and grow.”
Flin Flon’s Mike Reagan suggests, “I think his experience as a player and learning how to win with the Broncos has helped transition him into coaching. He’s passionate and really cares about his players.”
The 32-year-old native of Humboldt is looking to guide the Stars to their second straight SJHL championship, beginning early next month (March) when the quarter-finals begin and the Stars are the top seed.
RBC PLAYER OF THE YEAR
CARSON ALBRECHT, MELFORT MUSTANGS
The SJHL has named Melfort Mustangs forward (and captain) Carson Albrecht as the RBC Player Of The Year.
The 1998 born forward from Martensville has been an extremely consistent performer all year long and has a leg up on finishing second in the SJHL scoring race.
Albrecht, who recently committed to the North Dakota Fighting Hawks (NCAA) for this Fall, had points in 16 of 18 games during the second half of the season as the year hit the final few games.
He’s had 11 games in which he scored three points or more in a single game, including a 1-goal, 4-assist effort against Humboldt in mid-December.
Albrecht is also one of the team’s top penalty killers and his distaste for losing and being scored on is what drives him to excel in areas that don’t always show up on the scoresheet.
Albrecht’s performance off the ice is as impressive as the one on the ice. “Carson is a respectful person. I haven’t heard a negative word in three years,” says bench boss Trevor Blevins. “He volunteers at school twice a week, helps minor hockey twice a week. When there is an organization in town needing help, Carson is the first to raise his hand. Right from day one when he arrived here three years ago, he’s been a leader. You watch him play and he does exactly what you are supposed to do each and every day. He’s in the gym, he is looked up to by his peers in hard situations and is counted on by everybody. He’s what a captain should be.”
Congratulations to the RBC Player Of The Year, Carson Albrecht of the Melfort Mustangs.
SGEU MOST VALUABLE PLAYER
JUSTIN BALL, MELFORT MUSTANGS
The SJHL has named Melfort Mustangs forward Justin Ball as SGEU Most Valuable Player of the Year.
The 1998 born forward from Saskatoon led the SJHL in scoring almost wire to wire with his highlight being a 33 game point scoring streak from September 20th until December 22nd. As of February 26th, Ball had only been blanked on the scoresheet four times in 54 games played.
Ball had a hat trick in the first game of the year against Notre Dame and also had a four goal game against Humboldt in mid-December. He scored goals in 13 straight games from November 13th until December 15th and he is the first SJHL player to score 50 goals in a season since Travis Eggum scored 58 in 2010-11. He’s the first Melfort player to get 50 since Garett Cameron on 2002-03.
As further evidence of his consistency, Ball was named the SJHL Player Of The Month in November and December. He was the runner-up for the award in September/October and it would appear as though he has an opportunity to secure the award for February as well.
Mustangs Head Coach Trevor Blevins says Ball’s offensive skillset is self explanatory but adds his defensive game is also at an elite level. “He’s a true 200 foot player. We use him in all situations, including our penalty kill as well as our powerplay. I think his commitment to the smaller details is what sets him apart from other highly skilled players.”
Congratulations to the SGEU Most Valuable Player for 2018-19, Justin Ball of the Melfort Mustangs.
SJHL TOP DEFENSEMAN
CODY SPAGRUD, BATTLEFORDS NORTH STARS
The SJHL’s Top Defenseman this year goes to Battlefords North Stars captain Cody Spagrud. The 20-year-old from Gull Lake, SK is about to finish his fourth full season of duty with the Stars, and he’s been consistent from day one, registering 20 or more points in all of those four campaigns. This season was by far his most productive, as he doubled his previous career-high with 10-goals, and had 41-points at the end of February, fourth most among SJHL defensemen in both categories. First year Stars’ Coach & GM Brayden Klimosko calls Spagrud a rookie coach’s dream.
“He plays big minutes for us against the other team’s best guys, and plays in all situations. Off the ice he’s respected in the locker room and in the community. He’s our most consistent player, never takes a night off.”
Klimosko was an Assistant Coach in Humboldt when Spagrud broke into the league as a 17-year-old, and while he was behind veterans like Connor Sych, Kendall Fransoo and Levi Kleiboer on the depth chart his first couple years, he strengthened the group as a whole and has elevated his game as the Stars’ clear number one defenseman in his 20-year-old season.
“I saw at 17 that he was going to be a great player in this league,” said Klimosko. “The North Stars have been so fortunate to have some great defensemen these last few years. Cody has really become a mix of all of them. He has the shutdown aspect of a Sych, the leadership qualities of Fransoo this year he really added some offensive flash like Kleiboer.”
Spagrud played 214 regular season games as a North Star, helping them to a Canalta Cup in 2016-2017.
SASKTEL TOP GOALTENDER
JUSTEN CLOSE, KINDERSLEY KLIPPERS
The SJHL has named Kindersley Klippers netminder Justen Close as the SaskTel Goaltender Of The Year.
The 1998 born Kindersley product shared the award with Nipawin’s Declan Hobbs a year ago and just narrowly edged Hobbs this time to make it two years in a row he’s had his name engraved on the plaque.
Close has three shutouts and has had nine other games in which he allowed just one goal. He’s allowed more than three goals in a game only four times in 38 appearances.
Close is ultra competitive and his ability to stay focused and always stay on his game are a couple of reasons why he’s found himself near the top of all major statistical categories for SJHL goalies.
“He’s so athletic,” says Klippers coach Clayton Jardine. “He has a great mindset and never gets rattled. Everyone can see how well he plays the puck too. He’s flexible and moves quickly and knows how to use his frame to fill up the net. He’s mature and his character is off the wall.”
Close also recently committed to the Minnesota Golden Gophers (NCAA) and is the first known Saskatchewan born and trained player to be recruited by the Gophers in recent memory, maybe ever. In fact, only four other Canadian players have played with the Gophers in the last 35 years.
Congratulations to the Sasktel Goaltender Of The Year, Justen Close of the Kindersley Klippers.
DIRECTWEST ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
LUKE SPADAFORA, MELVILLE MILLIONAIRES
Luke Spadafora is the SJHL’s Directwest Rookie Of The Year in 2018-2019. The Calgary, AB product started the year in Humboldt, where he had just under a point-per-game clip with the Broncos (17-3-11-14) before he was involved in a key early-season deal with the Melville Millionaires, with Logan Foster heading back the other way. Both players have fit in well with their new teams and have had similar stats. Spadafora has turned heads as a rookie, having a great showing at the SJHL/MJHL Showcase in Regina in January. He joined the Millionaires around the same time as interim Coach & GM Kyle Adams arrived on the scene.
“He’s been huge for us. Putting him on our top line with Josh Borynec and Damian Bentz, you can just see the type of skill he has as a player. He’s a natural goal scorer, can also make plays, he’s an all-around guy who’s going to get on the scoresheet, and help you get over the hump and sometimes win some games for you by himself.”
Spadafora became more of a goal scorer in Melville, racking up 13-goals and 28-points in his first 35-games as a Millionaire, and 41-points, including 16-goals in 52 games total. At the end of February he was tied with Borynec for the team-lead in points, and trying to will his club toward the final playoff spot position, a spot they’re battling for with Weyburn down the stretch.
SJHL TOP SCORER
JUSTIN BALL, MELFORT MUSTANGS
CANALTA HOTELS COACH OF THE YEAR
CLAYTON JARDINE, KINDERSLEY KLIPPERS
The Canalta Hotels Coach Of The Year is rookie bench boss Clayton Jardine of the Kindersley Klippers.
The Lacombe AB native was hired by the Klippers in late May 2018 as the club’s new Coach/General Manager and he has proceeded to lead the team to the division lead for much of the season in the Global Ag Risk Solutions Division.
Jardine, who will be 28 years old by the end of the season, spent time with the Klippers in 2015-16 as an assistant coach and then went for two years as the assistant at New England College (NCAA Div III).
Nipawin head coach Doug Johnson says Jardine, “Clayton’s team works hard and they are structurally sound. He has his guys playing hard and buying into a team first attitude.”
Estevan’s Chris Lewgood adds, “The Klippers are a team who are structured with a game plan that suits their personnel very well. It speaks to their coaching when, as an opposing coach, you can easily identify their X’s and O’s through video when pre-scouting and yet have challenges in competing against them.”
The Klippers go into the final few games of the season with a 35-15-3-and-2 record, good for second overall in the twelve team league.
Both the powerplay and penalty kill are ranked in the top half of the league with the Klippers scoring the second most goals with the man advantage.
Defensively, the Klippers have allowed the second fewest goals in the SJHL.
Congratulations to Clayton Jardine, the 2018-19 Canalta Hotels Coach Of The Year.
RBC PLAYER OF THE YEAR / SGEU MOST VALUABLE PLAYER
LAYNE YOUNG, F
BATTLEFORDS NORTH STARS
1997 F Layne Young (Frenchman Butte SK) had a season that was as prolific as any in recent memory.
Young joined a select group of 100 point season players, becoming the first to do it since Travis Eggum and Marc-Andre Carre in 2010-11. By contrast, the leading point getter a season ago had 79.
Young’s 100+ points represented a contribution of almost 50% of all North Star offense. He was also a model of consistency, finishing in the top two of league scorers in each month of the season.
Teams held Young off the scoresheet only seven times all year (through 56 games), that included a rare three games in a row in mid-November. He had points in 16 straight to end the year.
Young was the SJHL Rookie Of The Year in 2015-16 and ends his career with 251-points in 165-games (with two contests remaining in the 2017-18 year).
Kindersley Klippers head coach Geoff Grimwood has high praise for the North Stars forward. “He’s a very honest player, regardless of how much skill he has. He competes hard every night and makes his teammates better. Layne is a complete package with great size, speed, and shot. But, he’s also very hard working and competitive.”
Humboldt Broncos bench boss Darcy Haugan adds, “Layne’s got a high skill set with an even higher level of composure. Obviously, you don’t get to 100 points with smoke and mirrors, however what I admire the most about Layne’s game is his ability to execute when the critical moment of a game presents itself.”
Those sentiment are echoed by Nipawin’s Doug Johnson. “Layne is a very special player. He is, incredibly, smart with a great skill level. When he has the puck on his tape, it is very hard to get it away from him. Consistency is also a huge asset for Layne. Game in, game out he brings it. He always competes and the bigger the game the better he plays.”
IBAS TOP DEFENSEMAN
JOSH MCDOUGALL, D
NIPAWIN HAWKS
In a year when offensive defencemen stood out in the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League, Josh McDougall rose to the top of that talented group.
The 19-year-old Prince Albert product more than doubled his output from his rookie campaign as he led the Nipawin Hawks in scoring with 17 goals and 55 assists entering the final four days of the regular schedule.
As a result of his outstanding performance, McDougall has been named the IBAS Top Defenceman of the Year.
The selection is another major accomplishment for the talented blueliner as earlier this year he committed to play with the NCAA Division 1 Mercyhurst next season in addition to participating in the inaugural Sask/Man Showcase in Regina in mid-January.
McDougall, who was named to the SJHL’s all-rookie team a year ago when he had 30 points in 53 games, is used in all situations with the Hawks as 12 of his goals have come while the team is on the power-play and two of his assists have been on short-handed markers. McDougall has also netted four game-winning tallies during his impressive season.
It is the third straight year that McDougall has claimed a major honour as prior to joining the Hawks he was selected to the first-team all-star squad in his final season of midget hockey while playing with the Tisdale Trojans of the Saskatchewan Midget AAA Hockey League.
SASKTEL TOP GOALTENDERS
JUSTEN CLOSE, G
KINDERSLEY KLIPPERS
Kindersley goalie Justen Close was a horse this regular season. He was counted on more than anyone across the league as he led the way in Games Played and Minutes by a fair margin, and shares the honour of SJHL Goaltender of the year. With the final week of the regular season still to come, Close was third in the league in wins (19). He also sported a 2.72 goals against average and the league’s second best save percentage (.922%). His three shutouts also had him in a tie for second across the league, and if the Klippers complete their late season charge and finish in the top six, he’ll be arguably the biggest reason why.
DECLAN HOBBS, G
NIPAWIN HAWKS
For the second straight year there is a goaltender from the Nipawin Hawks with his name on the SaskTel Top Goaltender Award as 19-year-old Declan Hobbs shares this year’s honour with Justen Close of the Kindersley Klippers.
Hobbs has been busy this year as he has appeared in 28 games with the Hawks entering the final week of the regular season recording a 21-4-1-2 record. His goals-against average and save percentage are among the league’s best and along with rookie Jake Anthony he has helped Nipawin boast the best defensive numbers overall.
Hobbs joined the Hawks last season after spending parts of three seasons with the Kootenay Ice of the Western Hockey League. Hobbs saw limited action a year ago as Kristian Stead was the workhorse on that squad enroute to claiming the top goaltender and most valuable player awards. Hobbs still got into 13 games and finished the year with a 1.94 goals-against average and .929 save percentage, benchmarks he was on pace to easily eclipse this year until he was beaten for six goals on 15 shots in a late-season outing against the Melfort Mustangs.
His strong play this year also got him another opportunity in the WHL as Hobbs was called up by the Spokane Chiefs for two games in December. His return to Nipawin, however, gives the Hawks one of the best tandems entering the post-season.
DIRECTWEST ROOKIES OF THE YEAR
CADE KOWALSKI, F
WEYBURN RED WINGS
Weyburn’s Cade Kowalski led all rookies in SJHL scoring in 2017-2018, and with that he’s been named a co-recipient for SJHL Top Rookie. The Morden, MB product moved west this season and racked up 10-goals and 58-points, through 57 games. Notre Dame’s Jared Hamm was the league’s only other rookie to hit the 50-point plateau. Kowalski had 16 multi-point games, including a four point effort against Yorkton February 3rd.
JACOB WASSERMANN, G
HUMBOLDT BRONCOS
Humboldt Broncos goaltender Jacob Wassermann caps off a busy regular season by being named co-winner of the SJHL Rookie Of The Year. Wassermann’s season was set to begin with the WHL’s Vancouver Giants, but his rights were dealt to the Regina Pats, and he found himself joining his hometown Humboldt Broncos, where he went 14-8-2-3, with a 2.60 GAA and .909%. The season also saw him try out for Team Canada West at the World Junior A Challenge Selection Camp in Calgary, and backstop a victory at the CJHL Top Prospects Game in Mississauga, Ontario.
SJHL TOP SCORER
LAYNE YOUNG, F
BATTLEFORDS NORTH STARS
There wasn’t much suspense, but it was still a remarkable season to watch it unfold as Battlefords North Stars forward Layne Young wins the SJHL scoring crown for the 2017-18 year.
As a rookie in 2015-16, Young finished 8th in league scoring. Last year, he was 5th. This year, he won in a runaway by compiling 107-points, the best single statistical season of any SJHL player since Tyler Shantz scored 111-points in 2000-01 with the Lebret Eagles. It marks the first time since 2010-11 that an SJHL player eclipsed the century mark. That year, Marc-Andre Carre and Travis Eggum (both of La Ronge) had 106-points.
Young started the season with a 14-game point scoring streak and ended it with a 16-game point scoring streak as he was a model of consistency all year long. In fact, he was held off the scoresheet just seven times over the course of 57 games played (three of those were in a row during mid-November after his first lengthy point scoring streak ended).
His 35-goals led the league, by one over Zach Goberis of Estevan. His 72-assists ranked first as well, representing nine more than Humboldt’s Logan Schatz. Schatz was also a very distant second in points with 85.
Included in Young’s banner season were a pair of 4-point games as well as two 5-point games and one 6-point game.
Young is slated to lace up for the Saskatchewan Huskies of Canada’s University Sport in September 2018.
CANALTA HOTELS COACH OF THE YEAR
DOUG JOHNSON
NIPAWIN HAWKS
For the second year in a row, and third time since becoming head coach and general manager of the Nipawin Hawks in 2010, Doug Johnson is the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League’s Canalta Hotel Coach of the Year.
Johnson is on the verge of doing something the Hawks haven’t experienced in 18 years and that is guiding the team to a first-place finish overall in the regular season. With the Sherwood Division banner already secured, the Hawks need just one more win, or Battlefords North Stars’ loss, during the final four days of the regular schedule to claim the No. 1 seed heading into the playoffs.
As was the case last year, a Johnson-lead team will record 40 or more wins, but this year was different as there was a stretch from Nov 10 to Feb 17, a total of 30 games, when the Hawks recorded at least one point. If it weren’t for the Melfort Mustangs that run might have been a lot longer as the Mustangs were the team to defeat Nipawin at both ends of the streak and in fact finished the season with an incredible 8-1-1-0 mark against the Hawks.
Should the Hawks get that No. 1 seed there is the potential for a Nipawin-Melfort showdown in the semi-finals, a level Nipawin has been to in each of the last three years only to miss out on the opportunity of advancing to a league final for the first time since 2000-01.
Johnson and his staff have done a great job year-in and year-out in recruiting players and this season was no exception as he brought in first-year players Austin Mikesch, Jake Tremblay, Jordan Simoneau and Jake Anthony, among others, to compliment a veteran team looking to claim its first league title in 28 years.
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2017-18 All-Rookie Team
CADE KOWALSKI, F
WEYBURN RED WINGS
The Weyburn Red Wings knew what they were getting when Cade Kowalski came to camp last fall and the 18-year-old from Morden, Man., exceeded all of those expectations. Kowalski was one of just four Red Wing players to dress in all 58 games during the regular season and as a result led the team in scoring with 11 goals and 49 assists. Kowalski, whose output was tops among first-year players in the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League, capped off his maiden season with eight points in his final five games to help the Red Wings secure the No. 7 seed and a Wild Card playoff date with the Melville Millionaires. Kowalski’s better than a point-per-game average followed a similar line from last year when he had 63 points in 43 games with the Pembina Valley Midget AAA Hawks. Kowalski’s skills were recognized earlier this year when he was selected to compete in the inaugural Sask/Man Showcase and in two games at that event he collected another two points.
CODY BRUCHKOWSKI, F
YORKTON TERRIERS
It was a trying season for the Yorkton Terriers, but there were some bright spots and one of the brightest was the play of 18-year-old forward Cody Bruchkowski. The product of Cochenour, Ont., scored 14 times and added 29 assists in 53 games to finish second in team scoring and third overall amongst first-year players in the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League. Bruchkowski also picked up a pair of points when he competed with Team Schwartz at the inaugural Sask/Man Showcase in January. Prior to coming west to play in Yorkton, Bruchkowski spent a couple of seasons with the Thunder Bay Midget AAA Kings culminated by a 38-point output in 22 games last season. The Terriers are in a rebuild mold and with a player like Bruchkowski in the fold they certainly have someone to build a quality team around.
JARED HAMM, F
NOTRE DAME HOUNDS
The Notre Dame Hounds hit a bit of a rough patch on the final leg of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League’s regular season, but one player that turned it up a notch during that stretch was 18-year-old Jared Hamm. The first-year forward had 10 points over his last nine games to finish with 52 points in 52 games, the second highest point total for freshman players in the SJHL this season. Hamm was used in every situation this year as he had six power-play goals, one shorthanded effort and two game-winning tallies. Hamm joined the Hounds after a brilliant final season with the Beardy’s Blackhawks of the Saskatchewan Midget AAA Hockey League. The Warman native had 61 points in 43 games for Beardy’s last season and as a result was named to the league’s second all-star team. Hamm, who was held off the scoresheet in two games at the inaugural Sask/Man Showcase in January, will be a key player for the Hounds when they open the playoffs in the best-of-three Wild Card round against the Flin Flon Bombers.
JACOB WASSERMANN, G
HUMBOLDT BRONCOS
It has been an eventful first year of junior hockey for Humboldt Broncos’ netminder Jacob Wassermann. The recently-turned 18-year-old started the season with a 6-2-1-0 record in his first nine appearances with his hometown Broncos and as a result was invited to try out for the Team West squad that was to compete at the World Junior “A” Challenge. Although he never made that team he was later one of two Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League players invited to compete at the Canadian Junior Hockey League’s Top Prospects Game in January. After that he was summoned by the Western Hockey League’s Regina Pats where he appeared in a pair of games and posted a 3.88 goals-against-average and .844 save percentage. Wassermann finished his season in Humboldt with a 14-9-2-3 record, a 2.69 GAA and .907 save percentage to help the Broncos claim the No. 5 seed for the postseason. Wassermann, who returned home to Humboldt after a year with the Saskatoon Blazers of the Saskatchewan Midget AAA Hockey League, will be leaned on to help provide a final line of defence as the Broncos begin their quest for a Canalta Cup championship.
TIM GOULD, D
NOTRE DAME HOUNDS
The Riverview, N.B., product has been away from home since he was 15 years of age and during that time he has continued to develop his skills to the point where he has become a premiere blueliner in the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League. Gould, who just turned 18 last month, led all SJHL rookie defencemen with 31 points in 50 games while with the Notre Dame Hounds and that did not go unnoticed as he recently committed to play with the University of Maine, an NCAA Division 1 school, starting in 2019. Gould’s talents were recognized early in the season when he was one of nine SJHL players invited to try out for Team West leading up to the World Junior “A” Challenge and he was also part of the inaugural Sask/Man Showcase in January where he had three points in two games with Team Schwartz. Prior to joining the Hounds this season, Gould spent two years with the Notre Dame Midget AAA program playing a total of 84 games and recording 30 points. Gould’s focus is now on the post-season and he will be an integral part of the Hounds’ squad that takes on the Flin Flon Bombers in the best-of-three Wild Card round.
CALVON BOOTS, D
FLIN FLON BOMBERS
Playing hockey can take you places, but for Flin Flon Bomber defenceman Calvon Boots that mantra has been stretched to its fullest. Raised in Fairbanks, Alaska, Boots spent the last three years in Colorado competing with a number of teams before making the move to northern Manitoba for his freshman Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League season with Flin Flon. That move has paid off as Boots, who just turned 20 in February, had the second most points for a rookie defenceman with 29, but he had the most goals for first-year rearguards with 14. Boots played in all but three games for the Bombers this season and he also dressed for a pair of games for Team Mitchell at the inaugural Sask/Man Showcase in January where he picked up another goal. Boots will be looking to extend his season when his Bombers face the Notre Dame Hounds in the opening Wild Card round.
RBC PLAYERS OF THE YEAR
Ben Duperreault, Notre Dame Hounds
Ben Duperreault returned to the SJHL after three full seasons at the major junior level and he didn’t miss a beat.
Duperreault embraced the challenge of moving back home with open arms and led the SJHL in scoring for most of the season.
Head Coach Clint Mylymok says he’s a complete player. “He’s that guy that catches you from behind and picks pucks off your stick and makes you wonder where did he come from. He always back checks and tries so hard. There is no quit in him. He doesn’t know how to quit. If there is a puck to be had, he wants to get his stick on it.”
Duperreault tenacious work ethic makes him difficult to defend and while some major junior players are content to return to the Junior ‘A’ ranks and, simply, play out the string to their career; Duperreault isn’t one of those guys. “He’s always had the drive and determination as well as skill and speed. Last year he played half a season for us and I really noticed how hard he also competed. When you have a player that is as good as Ben and he is willing to put in the work to compete, it’s fun to see how good your team can be. He makes things happen out there.”
Duperreault elevates the play of others naturally just through working against him in practice, but being on his line can be a revelation as well as linemates have learned how to get open, how best to keep up, and how to maintain the same level of effort.
It’s expected Duperreault will continue his hockey career at the University of Regina in the Fall.
Greyson Reitmeier, Flin Flon Bombers
Greyson Reitmeier came to the Flin Flon Bombers prior to the 2015-16 season and he was considered to be a project. The BC native wasn’t widely known in SJHL circles beyond the 48 games he played for Melville in 2014-15.
Mike Reagan recalls seeing promise immediately. “We were impressed with his puck handling and speed. He, obviously, had good size and he’s developed into the prototypical power forward.”
Reitmeier got off to a decent start, but from November 1st onward he was the SJHL’s most prolific offensive player; showing an elite ability to score goals and also set them up.
“There’s still a lot of growth in him. He’s a bit of a late bloomer. I think it will be interesting to see where is after college hockey. He’s 6’4” who skates like he’s 5’7”. He just flies out there and takes pucks to the net with authority. He plays that power game teams love. He’s very tough. Night in and night out he rates as one of our more physical players. He doesn’t just hit to finish checks, he hits to hurt. He goes through guys,” says Reagan.
Reitmeier has secured an NCAA future with Michigan Tech, slated to begin this Fall.
SGEU MOST VALUABLE PLAYER
Kristian Stead, Nipawin Hawks
The SJHL’s Most Valuable Player for 2016-2017 is Nipawin Hawks’ goaltender Kristian Stead. The 20-year-old has played the third most minutes among SJHL goaltenders, and his save percentage leads the way, hovering at or above the .935% mark for much of the year.
His Head Coach and GM Doug Johnson has been around a lot of great goaltenders during his time in Nipawin, but says Stead has set the bar this season.
“I haven't seen a performance like Stead has put together this year. He has taken his game to another level and the scary thing is he is still getting better. He's working on improving his game every day and it shows. Steader has a very bright future in hockey and is an even better citizen.”
The Hawks had very few returnees from last season, and Stead has helped guide them to a point where they’re in the conversation for a Sherwood Division championship heading into the final weekend of the season. They will finish with either the second or third most points in the league this season, and their team goals against average is just over the 2.00 mark, with Stead’s personal GAA just under that mark.
The 20-year-old from Merritt, BC will play NCAA Division I for the University of Alaska-Anchorage Seawolves in 2017-2018.
IBAS TOP DEFENSEMAN
Eric Sinclair, Flin Flon Bombers
For the second year in a row, the SJHL’s top blueliner is Eric Sinclair. The only difference is that Sinclair is now a Flin Flon Bomber after winning in 2016 as a Melfort Mustang.
Sinclair was caught in a future considerations during the offseason that resulted in him, reluctantly changing sweaters as the Mustangs would have loved to have kept him.
Melfort’s loss was Flin Flon’s gain. Sinclair has long been regarded as a premier offensive defenseman, but his other intangibles are what separates him from the rest of his peers. “He’s a gamer who has an impact night in and night out,” says Bomber bench boss Mike Reagan. “From the first day he came to us, he showed us how much confidence he has and we, quickly, became confident that we were in possession of the best defenseman in the league. He makes everyone else better.”
In an era of decreasing offense, Sinclair being a point per game performer while being a defenseman is all the more impressive. But, Reagan says he’s a real chore for opposing forwards to play against one on one. “He’s aggressive. A man amongst boys. He’s strong, wins battles and nobody out-competes him. We knew from seeing him so often last year that he was good, but we weren’t really aware of everything that he does. He doesn’t get enough credit for how much of a well rounded player he is. He could play 45 minutes a game and not be tired. I, honestly, am not sure if he’s a better defensive defensman or offensive one.”
Sinclair will continue his hockey career in the NCAA this Fall with Alaska-Anchorage.
SASKTEL TOP GOALTENDER
Kristian Stead, Nipawin Hawks
Nipawin’s Kristian Stead is a double winner for this season’s SJHL league awards, also taking the nod for Top Goaltender in 2016-2017. There was stiff competition, including the tandem of Taryn Kotchorek and Joel Gryzbowski in Battlefords. That trio including Stead all have sub-2.00 Goals Against Averages on the season, while Stead holds the edge across the league in wins, save percentage, and shutouts. Stead goes into the final weekend of the regular season with six shutouts, and three of those came consecutively, on January 25th, 29th, and February 3rd. That streak highlighted a stretch where he surrendered two goals or less in eight straight games.
Hawks’ Coach & GM Doug Johnson says this was the best season-long performance he’s witnessed by a goaltender, and he’s had some good ones in recent years with the Hawks. Johnson says it was a long and well worth it process landing Stead last summer.
“We actually tried to recruit him as an 18 year old. With him being from Merrit he wanted to try the BCHL one last time. When that didn't work outwe still kept on him and were fortunate enough to bring him in as a 19 year old. All credit is due to Bill Forman our BC scout and father of former Hawk Reece Forman who targeted ‘Steader’ and kept going to bat for him.”
Stead and the Hawks are in the running for the Sherwood Division pennant, and after the playoffs, he’ll set his sights on his recently committed NCAA Division Scholarship, to the University of Alaska-Anchorage.
SJHL ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
Adam Dawe, Notre Dame Hounds
Perhaps the best professional prospects since Jaden Schwartz in 2009, Adam Dawe seems like a runaway winner for SJHL Rookie Of The Year in a season where the league still had a very strong class of first year players.
Dawe, who’s technically still a midget aged played, led the rookie point race wire to wire and his head coach wasn’t the least bit surprised. “When you put up that many points at his age, some of the things you look at are determination and competitiveness. He’s, actually, ultra-competitive. He’s not a vocal guy. He’s the typical ‘actions over words’ type of player. But, practice-wise, he works hard and he understands that you just don’t show up for games and expect to do well. Practice means something to him. I’ve never had to get at him to pick up the pace or do the drill right. When you work with the most elite of players, you tell them once and they understand. That’s Adam,” says Clint Mylymok.
“Skill-wise, he always has his head up. He knows where the puck needs to go. Every time he steps on the ice, he becomes the smartest player out there. He has the vision, he reads plays, he’s a step ahead of everyone else.”
Dawe is expected to play for the University of Maine in the Fall of 2018.
SJHL TOP SCORERS
Ben Duperreault, Notre Dame Hounds
Greyson Reitmeier, Flin Flon Bombers
CANALTA HOTELS COACH OF THE YEAR
Doug Johnson, Nipawin Hawks
The Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League’s Coach of the Year for the 2016-2017 season is Nipawin Hawks’ bench boss Doug Johnson. Johnson is a two time winner, having also captured the honour in 2011-2012.
The Hawks didn’t go into the season with the most experience from last year’s roster, but when the awards were announced, Johnson’s club was leading the hotly-contested Sherwood Division with three game to play.
This award is voted on by the SJHL’s Coaches themselves, so Johnson says it means a lot.
“It definitely is an honor to be recognized by your peers. I think there are a lot of coaches that deserve this award. This is a special group and they do make coming to the rink fun. However every year it's fun to come to the rink and it has to be. We coach because we love it. We aren't getting rich at this level and our job security is nil but for me there is no better feeling (other than family accomplishments) than watching your players work hard every day and improve their game day in and day out while respecting the jersey and being great ambassadors of the Hawks and the game of hockey.”
The Hawks started the season 0-2-2-0 and were having trouble scoring but Johnson says they quickly turned it around.
“Things started to come together at the December 1st deadline, getting Josh Bly who has been outstanding for us and Eric Bolden after Christmas it really helped our offense. Then on the January 10th deadline landing Keegan Milligan and getting Brandan Arnold back from Swift and landing Tanner Reynolds it gave us some great depth and shored up our areas of concern. This is an organizational award. Without the other staff members, the support of the board, our outstanding billets and volunteers and definitely without our outstanding players we would not be in this situation.”
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2016-17 All-Rookie Team
Joel Grzybowski, G
Batlefords North Stars
The Battlefords North Stars were already set between the pipes with veteran Taryn Kotchorek returning for another season, but 17-year-old Joel Grzybowski made it tough for the coaching staff not to give him his fair share of starts. Grzybowski hasn’t disappointed as the Hafford, Sask., native had a 20-4-0-1 record in his first 25 starts including five shutouts and a 1.73 goals-against average that was second only to Kotchorek’s 1.67. An 11th-round pick of the Saskatoon Blades in the 2014 WHL bantam draft, Grzybowski could get a look at that level in the future, but for now he is focused on extending the North Stars’ season as far as possible and his stellar freshman campaign has helped put them in a position to do just that.
Tyler Heidt, D
Melfort Mustangs
Joining a two-time defending league championship club can be daunting, but Tyler Heidt appears to have taken that opportunity and ran with it. Heidt, a 5-foot-11, 180-pound defenceman from Saskatoon, had seven goals and 13 assists in his first 50 games earning him more responsibilities as the Mustangs tried to hold off the Melville Millionaires for the final playoff spot. While the Mustangs adjusted to a different role other than being a frontrunner, Heidt has settled in nicely and looks to be a cornerstone for years to come.
Josh McDougall, D
Nipawin Hawks
The Nipawin Hawks are one of the top defensive teams in the league and Josh McDougall has played a big part in that success. The 18-year-old Prince Albert product appeared in 50 of the first 55 games and in addition to shoring up the Nipawin defence, the 5-foot-10, 173-pound McDougall also contributed eight goals and 21 assists, tops among all first-year blueliners. McDougall got his first taste of Nipawin hockey two years ago when he was 16 years old and while he never registered a point in four games he was someone the team kept an eye on. After two seasons with the Saskatchewan Midget AAA Hockey League’s Tisdale Trojans, where he never missed a game and helped them get to within one win of a league title last spring, he was ready to make the jump to the Hawks and with him in the line-up Nipawin has been in a season-long battle with the Flin Flon Bombers for the Sherwood Division title.
Ben Allen, F
Battlefords North Stars
It only took a player development fee to get Ben Allen out of Fort McMurray and the return on that small investment has been overwhelming. Allen had played in just four games with the Fort McMurray Oil Barons when his rights were moved to the Battlefords North Stars in mid-October and all the 19-year-old did was add to an already potent offence with 19 goals and 26 assists in his first 44 games in the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League. The 5-foot-9, 165-pound winger from Allen, Texas, has been instrumental in helping the North Stars capture both the Olympic Building Division title and the overall point’s race in the regular season.
Adam Dawe, F
Notre Dame Hounds
The Notre Dame Hounds knew exactly what they were getting when they included Adam Dawe in their starting line-up as a 17-year-old to start the 2016-17 SJHL regular season. The Gander, Nfdl., product had already been in Wilcox for two seasons playing Midget AAA hockey with the Hounds and having notched 86 points in 79 games the SJHL Hounds were confident he was ready to take it to another level. He did that and then some having recorded 61 points in 50 games this year in addition to being the only player from the SJHL selected to compete at the CJHL’s Top Prospects Game in January. The 5-foot-8, 160-pound Dawe, who has already committed to attend the University of Maine next season, was a runaway leader in rookie scoring having almost 20 more points than his nearest rival. Dawe, who turned 18 in January, was also a member of Team West at the World Junior “A” Challenge.
Michael McChesney, F
Estevan Bruins
The third member of the all-rookie forward unit also comes from outside the Saskatchewan borders as 19-year-old Michael McChesney moved just north of his home in Dickinson, N.D., to enjoy a stellar freshman season with the Estevan Bruins. The 5-foot-8, 175-pound centre has contributed 19 goals and 20 assists through 52 games to help the Bruins capture the Viterra Division banner and enter the post-season as the No. 3 seed. McChesney’s offensive abilities were fairly predictable as he had 66 points in just 24 games with Dickinson High School a year ago. Having just turned 19 a month ago, McChesney still has two years of junior eligibility remaining in addition to what the Bruins hope is an extended spring this year.
RBC PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Alex Smith, Flin Flon Bombers
1995 F Alex Smith (Edmonton AB) was in the race for the SJHL scoring title all season long, ultimately placing third with 31-goals and 52-assists in 55-games. Smith's game really took off in October and over the last forty games, he was the league's leading scorer. NCAA scouts took notice in January as he settled on a full ride scholarship with Michigan Tech after getting serious interest from a number of schools. Smith, who begins his collegiate career this Fall, ends the year as a top five player in goals, assists, points, and penalty minutes.
SGEU MOST VALUABLE PLAYER
Kris Joyce, La Ronge Ice Wolves
1995 G Kris Joyce (Prince George BC) was the ultimate workhorse, leading the league in minutes played and facing almost 500 shots more than his nearest competitor, all the while maintaining a high level of excellence as he led the Ice Wolves into the playoffs, thanks partially, to a five week stretch in which he posted a personal 9-0-0-and-2 record. Joyce was fifth in the league in goals against average and second in save percentage, which is all the more remarkable when you take into account the high number of shots against. Joyce ended up 22-20-4-and-3, meaning he was in the net for 51 of La Ronge's 60 points in the standings.
IBAS TOP DEFENSEMAN
Eric Sinclair, Melfort Mustangs
1995 D Eric Sinclair (Kenora ON) emerged from being a player on last year's championship team that subbed in and out of the line-up to play either on the back end or up front whenever he was needed, to a player any team would want to anchor their blue line. Sinclair's tremendous offensive skill carried him to a 13-goal, 32-assist season while dressing for all 58 of his team's games. Sinclair's point total was good enough to lead all SJHL defensemen in scoring this year, two better than Estevan's Zach Douglas.
SASKTEL TOP GOALTENDER
Jack Burgart, Weyburn Red Wings
1995 G Jack Burgart (Fort St James BC) back stopped the Wings to a landslide first place finish in the Viterra Division, finishing second in the league in wins, but first in SPCT and first in GAA. In fact, Burgart was the only puck stopper to register a GAA of less than 2.00 per game (1.97). A three year veteran and second year starter, Burgart's coming out party began in the second half of last season and he carried that momentum through, going 27-10-4-and-2. He had a .935 SPCT and he posted three shutouts to give him eight for his career. How tough was Burgart to beat? He was never beaten for more than four goals in a game all year.
SJHL ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
Layne Young, Battlefords North Stars
1997 F Layne Young (Frenchman Butte SK) had an explosive first season in the SJHL, finishing fifth in the league in scoring with 25-goals and 51-assists in 57-games played. Young was also second on his team in scoring and played a big role in leading the North Stars to first overall in the league standings. He will go into next year with a 14-game point scoring streak and he ended the year with points in 20-of-21. He played in all situations, leading all rookies in short handed goals and coming second in power play goals. He was second in first year players in goals and first in assists and points.
SJHL TOP SCORER
Travis Mayan, Melfort Mustangs
1995 F Travis Mayan (Rimbey AB) has laid claim to his second straight league scoring crown, finishing his season with 46-goals and 47-assists in 57-games played. That is five points better than Igor Leonenko of the Battlefords North Stars and it also betters his own total from last year when he was the scoring champion with 84-points. Mayan was also in the top 20 in league scoring as a rookie two seasons ago and has proven to be the most offensive three year player in the SJHL this decade. Mayan ends the year on a twelve game point scoring streak, having last been held off the scoresheet January 26th. In fact, he was only blanked nine times all year (six of those nine in January).
CANALTA HOTELS COACH OF THE YEAR
Kevin Hasselberg, Battlefords North Stars
Kevin Hasselberg was hired by the North Stars prior to the 2011-12 season and has developed a reputation as a coach who always has his team's very well prepared and has shown an ability to adapt and develop game plans tailored around the strengths of his roster. Over the last two years, Hasselberg's teams evolved from a big, physical squad into one that utilizes speed and skill. This year it paid off as the Stars led the SJHL atop the standings with a 43-11-2-and-2 record. Hasselberg's teams have won forty games in two of his four years at the helm and his career mark is 146-64-and-16 (OTL/SOL).
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2015-16 All-Rookie Team
Brenden Newton, G
Flin Flon Bombers
1997 G Brenden Newton (Medicine Hat AB) joined the Bombers this season as a first year eligible junior player after toiling last year in his hometown. Newton also played a couple of years of minor hockey, including Midget AA, at Notre Dame. Newton has been amongst the league’s top puckstoppers and was named the SJHL Rookie Of The Month for January as he filled in for an injured Zac Robidoux during a stretch after Christmas where the Bombers went 8-and-1 with Newton between the pipes.
Cory Thomas, D
Flin Flon Bombers
1998 D Cory Thomas (St. Brieux SK) has been a regular on the blueline with one of the SJHL’s top teams despite still having a year of midget elibibility. Thomas, who may still fill out an already large 6’5” 201 lbs frame, joined Flin Flon after two years in the Tisdale Trojans SMAAAHL program and was also selected to play in the in this year’s CJHL Top Prospects Game.
Cody Spagrud, D
Battlefords North Stars
1998 D Cody Spagrud (Gull Lake SK) played two seasons with the Swift Current Legionnaires of the SMAAAHL before coming to the North Stars this season will one more year of midget eligibility still remaining. Spagrud has tapped an offensive side of his game that has seen him produce more points as a Junior ‘A’ player than he ever did at the Midget AAA level. He was also named SJHL Rookie Of The Week in late October.
Layne Young, F
Battlefords North Stars
1997 F Layne Young (Frenchman Butte SK) has been, pretty much, the wire to wire leader amongst first year players in scoring this season; offering consistent week after consistent week. He’s averaged well over a point per game this season and projects as a future SJHL scoring champion contender, especially considering the fact he isn’t far off that mark already. Young played two years with the Battlefords SMAAAHL club before joining the Junior ‘A’ North Stars.
Coby Downs, F
Battlefords North Stars
1996 F Coby Downs (Montclair CA USA) may be a year or two older than most conventional Junior ‘A’ rookies, but Downs came to the Stars this past season after dabbling closer to home with the Ontario Avalanche U18 program. The grind of a Junior ‘A’ schedule hasn’t caused Downs to slow down in the second half of the season. In fact, he’s had several explosive weeks with SJHL Rookie Of The Week nods three different times.
McKenzie Welke, F
Yorkton Terriers
1999 F McKenzie Welke (Yorkton SK) was put in an, incredibly, tough position in that he was put on the first line of a rebuilding team despite still having two years of midget eligibility remaining. Welke did not disappoint, ranking amongst SJHL leaders on offense and showing a willingness to play a physical game against players, some of whom, are four years his senior. Welke does have the benefit of getting to play most of his competitive hockey close to home as he played two years of Bantam AA before moving on to the local Midget AAA team for a year prior to joining the Terriers.
RBC PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Travis Mayan, Melfort Mustangs
The Melfort Mustangs captured their second straight Sherwood Division title in 2014-15, but it is hard to imagine them being able to take the next step towards capturing first place overall without the scoring exploits of winger Travis Mayan. The 19-year-old Rimbey, Alta., product was the runaway leader in scoring with 40 goals and 44 assists for 84 points, tops in each category. Mayan’s production, which was exactly twice as much as the 42 he registered in his rookie campaign last year, included several runs of five games each where he scored at least one goal or one assist and he ended the season with points in the final 11 games (11-8-19) to help the Mustangs secure home-ice advantage throughout the playoffs.
SGEU MOST VALUABLE PLAYER
Travis Mayan, Melfort Mustangs
By definition the most valuable player is one who makes an impact on his team in each and every game and without him the level of success would certainly be altered. Travis Mayan certainly falls in that category as the 19-year-old winger from Rimbey, Alta., dominated the individual scoring race and in the process helped the Melfort Mustangs finish first overall in the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League’s regular season. The 5-foot-10, 160-pound Mayan was held off the scoresheet just twice after Dec. 6 and to finish the season he scored 11 goals and added 8 assists in the final 11 games to help Melfort nail down first place overall. Mayan doubled his output from his rookie season last year and with one more year of eligibility remaining the sky is the limit.
IBAS TOP DEFENSEMAN
Spencer Trapp, Notre Dame Hounds
1995 D Spencer Trapp (White City SK) is a complete package and a horse when it comes to logging ice time. Trapp also has earned a scholarship for next year to Holy Cross. An all-around performer, Trapp is one of the best on offense with 12-goals and 22-assists in 55-games. He has three powerplay goals as well as one shorthanded. He also piled up 114-penalty minutes and is comfortable playing any style of game.
SASKTEL TOP GOALTENDER
Evan Weninger, Kindersley Klippers
1996 G Evan Weninger (Saskatoon SK) carved out a decent chunk of playing time as a 17-year-old rookie and now he’s, arguably, the best 18-year-old Junior ‘A’ goalie in the country. Weninger, who also had a spot on the Canada West roster for the World Junior ‘A’ Challenge, paced the Klippers with a 27-10-and-2 record to go with a 2.06-GAA and an SJHL league leading .942-SPCT. He’s goals against average ranked second and he was third in wins despite missing a month while playing for Canada West.
SJHL ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
Garrett Dunlop, Nipawin Hawks
1995 F Garrett Dunlop (Nanaimo BC) has recorded offensive numbers at greater than a point per game for most of the season and finished the season as the league’s leading rookie scorer and he was also 7th overall amongst all performers. Dunlop, who’s coming off a 60-point season in 43-games with the VIJHL Nanaimo Buccaneers, was second on his team in points with 18-goals and 35-assists in 49-games.
SJHL TOP SCORER
Travis Mayan, Melfort Mustangs
The end result wasn’t even close as Melfort’s Travis Mayan recorded the largest margin in recent history to claim the individual scoring title by 20 points over Flin Flon’s Chris Rauckman and Kindersley’s Owen LaClare. The 19-year-old Mayan, who hails from Rimbey, Alta., led the league in every category scoring 40 goals and adding 44 assists for 84 points. Mayan had two five-game stretches where he scored at least one goal (final five games – 6 goals and Nov. 8-18 – 7 goals); two five-game stretches where he registered at least one assist (Dec. 11-19 – nine assists and Jan. 2-14 – eight assists); a seven-game point-scoring streak (Dec. 6-20 – 14 points) and an 11-game point-scoring streak to end the season (Jan. 30-Feb. 28 – 19 points). His consistency resulted in him being held off the scoresheet just twice from Dec. 6 to the end of the season. Mayan, who exactly doubled his output from his rookie year last season, has one more year of junior eligibility which leaves some to wonder what he can do for an encore.
COACH OF THE YEAR
Trevor Blevins, Melfort Mustangs
Trevor Blevins took over the Mustangs in December 2013 with the team looking from the outside at a playoff spot. He has, not only, turned the franchise into a contender; but the Mustangs go into the playoffs as the odds-on favorite to win the Canalta Cup. Blevins led the Mustangs to a first overall finish in the SJHL regular season standings for the first time in franchise history. In addition, the Mustangs are the top defensive team in the league despite Blevins employing a blueline that allows creativity in the offensive zone. Offensively, Melfort scored the second most goals in the league.
SGEU PUBLIC SERVICES - MOST VALUABLE PLAYER
Michael Gudmandson, Battlefords North Stars
1993 G Michael Gudmandson (Sherwood Park AB) may epitomize the word ‘valuable’ better than any dictionary description. Gudmandson helped the Stars turn around a 4-and-12 start by arriving on the scene and going 20-3-and-1 with a miniscule 1.74-GAA and .944-SPCT. He also posted 4 shutouts. The Stars rallied from the Kramer Division cellar to capture the pennant on the last night of the regular season, all on the back of Gudmandson.
PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Austin Daae, Estevan Bruins
Regular season scoring champion Austin Daae. The 20-year-old fit right in with his hometown Bruins, after spending some time in the Western Hockey League in previous years. His 71-points led all scorers, and he was one of just four SJHL players to hit the 30-goal plateau this season, finishing with an even 30. Austin Daae was the picture of consistency this season. He didn't once go three straight games without a point, and in every calendar month in the regular season, was over a point-per-game. Daae had 29-points in 21 games in January and February to get some breathing room at the top of the leader board. He had 21 multi-point games, a pair of hat tricks, and a season-high 5 points in a game in Battlefords in January.
DEFENSEMAN OF THE YEAR
Chase Norrish, Yorkton Terriers
Chase Norrish ended up with nearly a double-digit lead in the defensemen scoring race, finishing with 9 more points than his closest competition. Chase, whose twin brother Brady was named Yorkton's MVP a year ago, really cranked it up down the stretch, putting up 23 points over his last 14 games. During that stretch, Norrish had the second most points in the league, one fewer than teammate Brett Boehm. Led by the Norrish twins, captain Devon McMullen and of course Kale Thomson, it's no surprise the Terriers also led the league in fewest goals against (125).
SASKTEL - GOALTENDER OF THE YEAR
Kale Thomson, Yorkton Terriers
30 wins is a very good season for any team, with 5 of the league's 12 clubs passing that milestone this season. Terrier goalie Kale Thomson managed 31 wins on his individual record. Thomson was 31-11-3, while leading the Terriers to the league's top regular season record and 1st overall playoff seed. Not only that, Thomson set the SJHL's single season with 8 shutouts, to go along with his 1.89 GAA and .934 save percentage.
ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
Ryland Pashovitz, Humboldt Broncos
1995 G Ryland Pashovitz (Saskatoon SK) took the SJHL by storm and in what was the Year Of The Goalie, he put up some all-time best numbers. He finished with a 1.60-GAA (believed to be a single season record) and a sky high SPCT of .947 to go along with an 18-6-and-3 won-loss record. He also recorded 5 shutouts.
COACH OF THE YEAR
Jamie Fiesel, Melville Millionaires
For the first time in recent memory, Saskatchewan sports media will not be voting for the SJHL Coach Of The Year as there were not enough finalists. The finalists are chosen by the coaches, who vote for the peer they feel should be the Coach Of The Year and then the media selects the winner out of those three finalists. This season, the SJHL coaches have, unanimously, picked long time Millionaire bench boss Jamie Fiesel as the winner. Fiesel took a team that lost all but four regulars (Colin Mospanchuk, Allen Kilback, Adam Dibella, and Adam Koopman) from last year and led them to a season in which they challenged for first overall almost all season long, before settling into second place in the Viterra Division. Fiesel has been with the Mils since the 2004 season when he was hired to replace Steve Young, who left in the middle of the year to accept a position in the Western Hockey League. Under the Regina native’s tenure the Mils have been to a pair of league finals and have won thirty or games in four of the last seven years.
SGEU PUBLIC SERVICES - MOST VALUABLE PLAYER
Alex Wakaluk, Melville Millionaires
1993 G Alex Wakaluk (Bellevue AB) backstopped the Melville Millionaires to one of the best records in the SJHL, all the while being one of the busiest netminders in the SJHL. Wakaluk goes into the final couple of games having appeared in 44 of the team’s 52 games and he sits third overall in goals against average with a 2.31-ledger, all the while being the last line of defense on a club that has struggled to put together a blue line worthy of being considered comparable to the other elite teams in the league. Wakaluk has as 2.31 GAA and a SPCT of .929, which ranks second in the league. His back-ups this year have posted a combined GAA of well over 3.00 and a SPCT well under .900; further illustrating Wakaluk’s importance to the success of the Millionaires. He leads all goalies in wins and is second in minutes played and is also second in shutouts with five. He has faced more rubber than any other puckstopper in the league, seeing an average of well over 32 shots a night.
PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Ian McNulty, Melville Millionaires
1992 F Ian McNulty (Airdrie AB) is poised to win the SJHL scoring championship as he leads teammate Russell Trudeau by three points with two games to play. McNulty, who has a scholarship to the University of Connecticut for this Fall, fell five points shy of a scoring championship last season. McNulty is a well rounded player, further evidenced by the fact that despite leading the league in points, he is not amongst the top five in powerplay points, which is the easiest way for skilled players to register offensive production. McNulty’s 25 goals are only four off the league leader and just four of his tallies have come with the man advantage. He does have four game winning goals and he also leads the league in assists despite missing five games earlier in the year due to injury. In the five games McNulty was absent, the Mils struggled to score and win hockey games.
DEFENSEMAN OF THE YEAR
Josh Roach, Flin Flon Bombers
1992 D Josh Roach (Saskatoon SK) closes out his final season in the SJHL in fine style as he was the most prolific offensive blueliner by a long shot and also, vastly, improved his defensive game and stepped up his leadership qualities as well, lending his experience from last year as a member of the 2012 Canalta Cup champion Humboldt Broncos. Roach was dealt to Flin Flon as future considerations over the summer in the 2011 trade that saw the Bombers send Andrew Johnston to Humboldt. Roach helped make Mike Reagans’ patience pay off as he not only led all defensemen in most major categories; but he also came up just one vote shy in the SJHL MVP race. With 13-goals and 41-assists in 52-games, Roach put up over a point per game in a year where offensive production was hard to come by for SJHL skaters. In addition to leading all defensemen in goals, assists, and points, he also finished tied for the lead in powerplay points.
SASKTEL - GOALTENDER OF THE YEAR
Matt Hrynkiw, Humboldt Broncos
1992 G Matt Hyrnkiw (Saskatoon SK) has been, virtually, unbeatable all season long playing on a team that is extremely well rounded and asks its goaltender to make the first save. Well, Hrnkiw makes EVERY save it seems. While he isn’t often peppered with shots, Hrynkiw has shown great mental toughness with incredible focus by going through stretches of games where he isn’t busy; but still manages to make a tough stop. In addition to leading the league in goals against average (1.80) and save percentage (.940), Hrynkiw also leads the league in shutouts (6), and is second in wins (26) and fourth in minutes played.
ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
Brett Boehm, Flin Flon Bombers
1994 F Brett Boehm (Saskatoon SK) was a runaway winner for the award as he, like teammate Roach, led all players eligible for the award by a wide margin. While Boehm continues to refine the intangibles of his game, his offense is already at an elite level. So much so, that the National Hockey League has taken notice and is on the radar for, potentially, going in the 2013 Entry Draft. Boehm scored 24-goals and 27-assists in 47-games (still two to play), leading all first year players in each of those three categories. In fact, he’s fifteen points better than the second highest scoring rookie. Boehm has a scholarship to attend Minnesota-Duluth.
