The SJHL Power Rankings are decided each and every week by a group of SJHL broadcasters and will be released each Tuesday.
1. Battlefords North Stars 40-3-2-1 (Last Week 1st) – Just one game this past week for the 1st place North Stars, but it was a memorable one. Not only did the Stars pick up their 40th win of the season, but forward Steven Kesslering played in his 150th game and netted a hat-trick (originally thought to be 4) in the victory. The Stars have already clinched a playoff spot and are inching closer and closer to securing a division title. The Stars will be on the road this weekend for a pair of games against the Flin Flon Bombers up at the Whitney Forum.
2. Humboldt Broncos 30-12-1-0 (Last Week 2nd) – The Humboldt Broncos took care of business this week as they compete for 2nd place in the SJHL standings. A pair of wins over the Kindersley Klippers has the Broncos up to 30 wins on the year. SGEU MVP of the Week Alec Saretzky led the way with 2 goals and 2 assists in those games, and has found the back of the net ten times in his last 10 games. It will be a busy week for the Broncos as they visit the Notre Dame Hounds Tuesday, host Estevan Friday and Saturday, and then welcome Kindersley on Family Day.
3. Flin Flon Bombers 30-12-2-1 (Last Week 3rd) – It was a busy week for the Flin Flon Bombers as they took to the ice four times in five days and picked up 6 out of a possible 8 points. The trip was highlighted by a thrilling 7-6 overtime win in Estevan Saturday night which saw Alexi Sylvestre find the back of the net twice and earn two assists. His big week helped him earn DirectWest Rookie of the Week honours. Teammate Cory King was also named SuperU Defenceman of the Week for his great play on the blueline. The Bombers will be home to the North Stars this weekend. The win Sunday secured a playoff spot for the Flin Flon Bombers.
4. Melfort Mustangs 25-14-5-2 (Last Week 4th) – The Melfort Mustangs swept their home and home this weekend with the Yorkton Terriers to help get a big four points. The Mustangs currently own the 5th seed in the SJHL standings, but have their eyes set on home ice in the first round of the playoffs. They’ll have a chance to climb the standings this weekend as they host Kindersley Wednesday and play a home and home with Melville this weekend.
5. La Ronge Ice Wolves 28-16-3-2 (Last Week 5th) – After suffering a tough 2-1 loss to the Notre Dame Hounds, the La Ronge Ice Wolves finished their four game in five night road trip early last week with a big 6-1 on the road in Melville. The Wolves finished the road trip with 3 out of a possible 8 points. Now La Ronge has been forced to watch teams around them in the standings take to the ice and gain ground as the Wolves have played the most games in the SJHL. La Ronge will be back on the road this weekend in Kindersley.
6. Estevan Bruins 24-19-2-2 (Last Week 6th) – It was a great return to the ice for the Estevan Bruins over the weekend as they earned 3 out of a possible 4 points. The Bruins have been great at home this year, sporting a 15-6-2-1 record at Affinity Place. Estevan will wrap up their three game homestand Wednesday when they host Melville but then they will be back on the bus and on the road this weekend in Humboldt for two big games against the Broncos.
7. Nipawin Hawks 22-20-3-1 (Last Week 7th) – The Nipawin Hawks only gave up four goals in three games on their road trip down to southern Saskatchewan this week and earned 3 out of a possible 6 points. Their lone win though came arguably in the most important game of the trip as they blanked the Weyburn Red Wings 2-0 on Saturday. Now the Hawks have some breathing room on 7th place, sitting 5 points ahead of the Wings. The Hawks will play their lone game of the week Tuesday night when they host the Kindersley Klippers.
8. Weyburn Red Wings 20-21-2-1 (Last Week 8th) – The Weyburn Red Wings had their 9 game point streak snapped Saturday night at home against the Nipawin Hawks. The good news for Wings fans is the team still sits 6 points up on the Notre Dame Hounds for the 8th and final playoff spot going into this week. Weyburn could get much closer to Nipawin and the 7th spot this week and put even more distance between them and the Hounds as they play Yorkton twice and play Notre Dame twice this week.
9. Notre Dame Hounds 16-22-3-2 (Last Week 9th) – Notre Dame went 2-2 this week at home, but remain 6 points back of Weyburn for the 8th and final playoff spot. This week will be crucial for the Hounds if they hope to get in the playoffs as they host Humboldt Tuesday, but then play back to back games against Weyburn beginning Friday at the CPP in Weyburn and then back at home on Family Day.
10. Yorkton Terriers 15-29-0-1 (Last Week 10th) – The Yorkton Terriers are running out of wiggle room if they hope to return to the SJHL playoffs this year. With 11 games to go, the Terriers are 12 points back of Weyburn. The good news, the Terriers meet Weyburn twice this week and a pair of regulation wins could get them right back in the race. Yorkton and Weyburn meet Tuesday night in Yorkton.
11. Melville Millionaires 11-27-5-1 (Last Week 11th) – After a 6-1 loss to the La Ronge Ice Wolves Tuesday night at home, the Melville Millionaires had 8 days off. They will return to action following their lengthy break Wednesday when they visit the Estevan Bruins. The Mills will then play a home and home this weekend against the Melfort Mustangs.
12. Kindersley Klippers 9-26-2-5 (Last Week 12th) – It was a tough weekend for the Kindersley Klippers as they were outscored 10-3 in two games against the Humboldt Broncos. However, the contest at the West Central Events Centre Friday night was a goaltending duel between Cody Jaman and Jared Picklyk. It’s a busy week for the Klippers as they play four games in five nights. Tuesday they are on the road in Nipawin and then finish the road trip Wednesday in Melfort. The team will then return to the West Central Events Centre Friday and Saturday for a pair of games with La Ronge.