Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League

Power Rankings Feb 21st

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 41-4-2-1 (Last Week 1st) – After suffering just their 4th loss in regulation Friday night at the Whitney Forum, the North Stars bounced back with a 4-2 win Saturday night to split their weekend in Flin Flon. The Stars are 3 points away from securing 1st place in the SJHL and the Global Ag Risks Solutions Division. The Stars will be at home for three games this week against Yorkton Tuesday, Melville Friday and Notre Dame Saturday.

2. Humboldt Broncos 34-12-1-0 (Last Week 2nd) – It was a busy week for the Broncos, but they continue to roll in 2023. The club has won 7 straight and 14 of their last 16 games. They now have a four point lead on the Flin Flon Bombers for 2nd in the SJHL. Humboldt will be looking to continue on their winning ways this weekend when they face-off with the Nipawin Hawks in a home and home.

3. Flin Flon Bombers 31-13-2-1 (Last Week 3rd) – It’s safe to say “Hockey Night in the North” last Friday was a success in Flin Flon. In front of a packed Whitney Forum the Bombers went out and dominated the 1st place Battlefords North Stars and earned a 6-0 win. Sadly, for the Bombers faithful, the home side couldn’t get a similar result the following night. Flin Flon will be on the road Tuesday in Nipawin before returning home to the Whitney Forum for two games against the Weyburn Red Wings.

4. Melfort Mustangs 27-14-5-3 (Last Week 4th) – The Melfort Mustangs continue to climb the standings in the SJHL. This past week the Mustangs collected 5 out of a possible 6 points and are now just one point back of the La Ronge Ice Wolves for 4th and three points back of Flin Flon for 3rd. This coming weekend could decide who gets home ice in the first round of the playoffs as the Mustangs meet the Ice Wolves in a home and home Friday and Saturday.

5. La Ronge Ice Wolves 29-17-3-2 (Last Week 5th) – After 10 days off the La Ronge Ice Wolves returned to action in Kindersley for a pair of games against the Klippers. After dropping the first game Friday night, the Ice Wolves bounced back in a big way and earned a 6-2 win and more importantly a valuable two points. Now the stage is set for a big two games this weekend between the Ice Wolves and Melfort Mustangs in what could be a playoff preview.

6. Weyburn Red Wings 23-22-2-1 (Last Week 8th) – Don’t look now, but there is a battle brewing when it comes to positioning in the final three playoff spots. The Red Wings earned six valuable points last week and are now tied for 7th in the SJHL standings with the Nipawin Hawks and are just four points back of Estevan with two games in hand. The Wings will be on the road this weekend in Flin Flon for a pair of games against the Bombers.

7. Estevan Bruins 24-21-3-2 (Last Week 6th) – After a tough 3-2 loss in overtime at home Wednesday, the Estevan Bruins dropped both games on the road this weekend to the Humboldt Broncos. As a result, the defending SJHL Champions have both the Nipawin Hawks and Weyburn Red Wings hot on their heels. The good news for the Bruins is their final 6 games remaining are against teams below them in the SJHL standings. The Bruins are back on the ice Wednesday in Melville and back at home Saturday against Yorkton.

8. Nipawin Hawks 22-20-4-1 (Last Week 7th) – The Nipawin Hawks return to the ice after a week off tonight (Tuesday) as they host the Flin Flon Bombers. The Hawks are coming off a 6-5 overtime loss to the Kindersley Klippers, but did earn an important point. The Hawks are now tied with Weyburn for 7th, but do have a game in hand. Following Tuesday night’s game, the Hawks will play a home and home with the Humboldt Broncos this weekend.

9. Notre Dame Hounds 17-23-4-2 (Last Week 9th) – The Hounds aren’t done just yet. With 9 games to go in the SJHL regular season, the Hounds sit 9 points back of both the Hawks and Red Wings, with some games in hand. Notre Dame will look to build off of their win Monday night this weekend when they hit the road to Kindersley Friday and Battlefords Saturday.

10. Melville Millionaires 13-28-5-1 (Last Week 11th) – Despite nearly being eliminated from playoff contention, the Millionaires are still playing hard. The Mills went 2-1 this past week with wins on the road in both Estevan and Melfort. This week will be a busy one for the Mills as they play three games in four nights beginning Wednesday at home against Estevan. They will then be on the road this weekend in Battlefords and Kindersley.

11. Kindersley Klippers 11-29-2-5 (Last Week 12th) – The Kindersley Klippers have officially been mathematically eliminated from making the 2023 playoffs. However, the team isn’t playing like it. They split their weekend set at home against the La Ronge Ice Wolves and nearly clawed back from a four goal deficit Monday afternoon in Humboldt. Kindersley will be home to Yorkton, Notre Dame, and Melville this week.

12. Yorkton Terriers 15-31-0-1 (Last Week 10th) – The Yorkton Terriers had slim playoff chances going into this past week and with two regulation losses to the Weyburn Red Wings, those slim chances are sadly gone. Yorkton has struggled in the new year and hasn’t won a game in regulation since December 13th. Yorkton will be on the road this week for games in Kindersley, Battlefords and Estevan.