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 37-3-2-1 (Last Week 1st) – The Battlefords North Stars got back on track this week as they earned a trio of victories. It all started with a massive win at home Tuesday night when the Stars hammered the La Ronge Ice Wolves 9-3. They would then take that momentum on the road and earn wins in Yorkton and Melville. Half of the Stars roster will be off to Winnipeg for the SJHL/MJHL Showcase, but when they return they will be back on the ice Thursday in Wilcox for a meeting with the Hounds. Battlefords will then return home Saturday as they host the Melfort Mustangs.
2. Humboldt Broncos 27-12-1-0 (Last Week 2nd) – A pair of road games were on the docket for the Humboldt Broncos this past week and they earned a split. Friday they picked up a big 6-3 win in Melville against the Millionaires, but then had their five game winning streak snapped Saturday at the Northern Lights Palace in Melfort against the Mustangs. Humboldt currently sits tied for 3rd in the SJHL standings with the Flin Flon Bombers and will be looking to break that tie when they return to the ice Friday at home against Melville.
3. Melfort Mustangs 23-12-5-2 (Last Week 5th) – It was a big week for the Melfort Mustangs who earned three wins against three teams currently sitting in playoff spots. It started with a 5-4 victory over Flin Flon at home Tuesday, was followed by an overtime win in Weyburn Friday, and then capped off with an impressive 4-1 win over Humboldt. SGEU MVP of the Week and Captain Ben Tkachuk led the way for 3 goals and 5 assists this week, and now Melfort is just 2 points back of both Flin Flon and Humboldt in the league’s standings. Following the SJHL/MJHL Showcase, the Mustangs will hit the road for a pair of road games this weekend in Battlefords and Kindersley.
4. Flin Flon Bombers 26-11-2-1 (Last Week 4th) – The Flin Flon Bombers would have moved up a spot in the Power Rankings if it wasn’t for a loss to the Melfort Mustangs. Following their 5-4 loss to Melfort, the Bombers would return home and sweep their pair of games against the Estevan Bruins. The Bombers sit tied for 3rd with Humboldt going into this week and will play their lone game this week Saturday at home against the Nipawin Hawks.
5. La Ronge Ice Wolves 27-14-3-1 (Last Week 3rd) – It wasn’t the way the La Ronge Ice Wolves wanted to start the week, but it was the way they wanted to finish it. After a rough outing in Battlefords on Tuesday, the Ice Wolves got back in the win column Friday night at home with an overtime win over the Nipawin Hawks. They would then complete the weekend sweep of their Sherwood division rival the following night in Nipawin. February will see the Ice Wolves on the bus a lot as the club plays the entire month on the road except for one home game on February 25th. The Ice Wolves begin a 4 game in 5 night swing Friday night in Weyburn against the Wings.
6. Nipawin Hawks 21-18-2-1 (Last Week 6th) – Despite earning just 3 out of a possible 6 points this past week, the Nipawin Hawks continue to play some of their best hockey of the season. Even in their 6-3 loss to La Ronge at home Saturday, Nipawin outshot the Wolves 47-17. Thanks to their 3 points, Nipawin is now just 4 points back of the Estevan Bruins for 6th in the SJHL standings and they have 3 games in hand. Their lone game of the week is Saturday in Flin Flon against the Bombers.
7. Estevan Bruins 23-19-1-2 (Last Week 7th) – It was another tough weekend up in the North for the Estevan Bruins. They dropped both games up at the Whitney Forum against the Flin Flon Bombers, and now the Bruins have dropped 4 straight. It will be an interesting time now for the defending SJHL Champs as they won’t take to the ice until February 10th when they host the Nipawin Hawks, and during that time off a number of teams around them in the standings will make up games in hand.
8. Weyburn Red Wings 18-20-1-1 (Last Week 8th) – Weyburn is also playing their best hockey of the season right now. The Wings have a six game point streak and earned five out of a possible six points this past week with a pair of wins at home against Kindersley and an overtime loss to Melfort. Weyburn will continue their 7 game homestand this weekend when they host La Ronge on Friday and Yorkton on Saturday.
9. Notre Dame Hounds 14-19-3-2 (Last Week 9th) – The Notre Dame Hounds have slipped a little bit behind the Weyburn Red Wings following this past week. However, despite being 5 points back of Weyburn, the Hounds have two games in hand. Notre Dame split their two home games this week against Kindersley and will continue their crucial 8 game homestand Thursday night when they host the 1st place Battlefords North Stars.
10. Yorkton Terriers 14-26-0-1 (Last Week 10th) – The Yorkton Terriers took a major step back in their hopes of making the playoffs this week as they lost both of their games in regulation and with Weyburn earning 5 points, the Terriers are now 9 points back of the 8th and final playoff spot. Yorkton will look to turn their fortunes around when they meet Weyburn on Saturday.
11. Melville Millionaires 10-25-5-1 (Last Week 11th) – It was another difficult weekend for the Melville Millionaires as they hosted two of the top teams in the SJHL and dropped both contests in regulation. The Mills are on a 7 game losing skid and it won’t get any easier for them as they visit Humboldt on Friday and return home for a meeting with the La Ronge Ice Wolves Saturday.
12. Kindersley Klippers 8-24-2-5 (Last Week 12th) – After 19 games on the road, the Kindersley Klippers finally earned their first victory away from the West Central Events Centre Wednesday when they beat the Notre Dame Hounds 6-2. Unfortunately for the Klippers, that was their lone win of their 4 game in 5 night road trip. One highlight from the week for the Klippers was the play of Tylin Hilbig who registered 7 points in 4 games and will now be heading to Winnipeg for the SJHL/MJHL Showcase. The Klippers return to action Sunday afternoon when they host Melfort.
