The SJHL Power Rankings are decided every week by a group of SJHL broadcasters and will be released each Tuesday.
1. Flin Flon Bombers 29-2-2-0 (Last Week 1st):
The Flin Flon Bombers continue to be the top team in the CJHL (according to the Top 20 rankings) and they continue to be the top team in the SJHL Power Rankings. Despite suffering just their 2nd regulation loss of the regular season, the Bombers did pick up a pair of points Friday night in a comeback win over the Nipawin Hawks at home. Flin Flon will be looking to get back in the win column Friday when they play their lone game of the week against the Nipawin Hawks again at the Whitney Forum.
2. Battlefords North Stars 24-7-2-1 (Last Week 2nd):
They were one of the last teams to get going following the holiday break, but they continued on their winning ways this past weekend. The defending Canterra Seeds Cup champion North Stars earned victories in both Estevan and Wilcox (Notre Dame) and have now moved into a tie for 2nd place in the SJHL standings with the Melfort Mustangs with two games in hand. Battlefords will return home this week for a re-match against the Notre Dame Hounds on Saturday.
3. Melfort Mustangs 24-9-3-0 (Last Week 3rd):
For the 2nd time this season, the Melfort Mustangs beat the Flin Flon Bombers. Saturday the Mustangs blanked the Bombers 3-0 and are one of just two teams in the league to beat the top-ranked team in the country. 19 out of a possible 20 points in their last 10 games and the Mustangs are battling it out with both Battlefords & Humboldt for positioning in the top four. Melfort and Humboldt will play a home and home this weekend.
4. Humboldt Broncos 22-7-2-1 (Last Week 4th):
The Humboldt Broncos started 2024 on the right foot as they picked up a pair of victories on the road. The four points help them keep pace with both the Melfort Mustangs and Battlefords North Stars. Humboldt has games in hand on both of those teams and can make up some ground if they take advantage of those games. One of the games in hand comes tonight (Tuesday) as they host the Yorkton Terriers. They will then meet Melfort for a home and home this weekend.
5. Nipawin Hawks 16-17-0-2 (Last Week 5th):
17 goals in 3 games is pretty good. The Nipawin Hawks got back to their scoring ways to start 2024 as they earned four out of a possible 6 points to start the new year. With the points, the Hawks have given themselves a little bit of a cushion from the teams chasing them in the SJHL standings. It will be a tough weekend though for the Hawks as they hit the road to Flin Flon on Friday and then are back on the bus Sunday for a tilt in Melville against the Millionaires.
6. Weyburn Red Wings 13-13-0-4 (Last Week 6th):
It was an up-and-down weekend for the Weyburn Red Wings to kick off the unofficial 2nd half of the year. The Wings won an emotional 3-2 game at home Friday over their Highway 39 rivals but were unable to build off of it and get some separation in the Viterra division as they fell 6-2 to Melville. Big week ahead though for the Wings as they are home to Melville on Tuesday, La Ronge Friday, and Yorkton on Saturday.
7. Melville Millionaires 14-15-0-0 (Last Week 9th):
After dropping their holiday home and home to their Highway 10 rivals to start the unofficial 2nd half, the Millionaires earned a big two points Saturday at home against Weyburn. Melville currently sits in the 8th and final playoff spot, but they have plenty of games in hand as the Mills have played the least amount of games among any team in the SJHL. They will be back on the ice Tuesday in Weyburn against the Red Wings and then host Nipawin on Sunday.
8. Kindersley Klippers 13-17-2-2 (Last Week 7th):
It’s been a tough start to 2024 for the Kindersley Klippers as they dropped both of their games this week as they continue to battle for a spot in the SJHL post-season. Going into this week they currently sit tied for 6th in the league standings but have played more games than many of the teams around them. The Klippers will get a full week of practice and play their lone game of the week Friday at home against the Notre Dame Hounds.
9. Yorkton Terriers 12-20-1-1 (Last Week 10th):
Since returning from the holiday break the Yorkton Terriers are 3-2 and have got back in the race for a playoff spot. After dropping a tough 3-1 loss to Humboldt Friday, they bounced back Saturday with a 3-2 win over the Notre Dame Hounds. Unfortunately for the Terriers and their fans, they will not play a home game now until February 3rd. They will be on the road in Humboldt Tuesday and Weyburn on Saturday.
10. Estevan Bruins 13-16-0-2 (Last Week 8th):
The losing skid was extended to four games for the Estevan Bruins this weekend as they dropped a pair of close games. As of right now, the Bruins are on the outside looking in when it comes to the SJHL playoffs, but they have plenty of games around teams they are battling with remaining. The Bruins will host the La Ronge Ice Wolves twice this week on both Wednesday and Saturday.
11. La Ronge Ice Wolves 10-21-2-1 (Last Week 11th):
2024 started great for the La Ronge Ice Wolves as they beat the Melfort Mustangs 6-5 in overtime at home. However, the next night was a completely different story as they fell 8-3 in Nipawin. The Wolves remain just five points back of the 8th and final playoff spot and if they have any hopes of making the post-season this week could be crucial. They play four games in five nights in Southern Saskatchewan beginning Tuesday in Wilcox against the Hounds. They will be in Estevan on Wednesday, Weyburn Friday, and Estevan again on Saturday.
12. Notre Dame Hounds 8-25-1-0 (Last Week 12th):
A pair of close games to start 2024 for the Notre Dame Hounds but unable to get any points in the standings as they fell to Yorkton Saturday and Battlefords Sunday. Quick turnaround for Notre Dame as they will be back at it Tuesday at home against the La Ronge Ice Wolves and then hit the road for games in Kindersley and Battlefords Friday and Saturday.
