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 18-0-2-1 (Last Week 1st) – The Battlefords North Stars suffered just their 3rd loss of the season Friday night in La Ronge against the Ice Wolves, but just like their 2 previous losses, it came in extra time. The Stars have yet to lose in regulation through 21 games this season and continue to be the top team in both the SJHL & the entire CJHL. The number one line of Holden Doell, Jake Southgate, and Kian Bell continue to lead the way for the Stars as they are the top 3 scorers in the entire SJHL. Battlefords will return home to the ACC this weekend where they host the Flin Flon Bombers for a pair of games.
2. La Ronge Ice Wolves 14-7-1-0 (Last Week 5th) – The La Ronge Ice Wolves were the busiest team last week in the SJHL, and they couldn’t have asked for a better performance. The Ice Wolves earned a pair of wins mid-week against the Kindersley Klippers, beat the North Stars in overtime 2-1 Friday, and completed the full sweep of the week with a big 6-1 win Saturday against Yorkton. With 8 points earned at home, the Ice Wolves leap frogged the Flin Flon Bombers for first in the Sherwood division and are now 14-7-1-0 on the year. They will wrap up their 6 game homestand this weekend when they host the Weyburn Red Wings for a pair of games.
3. Flin Flon Bombers 13-4-1-1 (Last Week 2nd) – It was a dominant performance for the Flin Flon Bombers at home Thursday night against the Yorkton Terriers, winning 8-3. Rookie Liam Bridger had a goal and 3 assists in the win and was named Directwest Rookie of the Week. Unfortunately for the Bombers, they couldn’t get more than one by Caleb Allen Friday evening and fell 3-1. Flin Flon is now 1 point back of La Ronge for top spot in the Sherwood division, but do have 3 games in hand. The Bombers will hit the road this week for 4 games starting Tuesday in Nipawin, head to Battleford for a pair Friday and Saturday, and then wrap up the trip Sunday afternoon in Humboldt against the Broncos.
4. Humboldt Broncos 14-6-0-0 (Last Week 4th) – After a rough week on the road, the Humboldt Broncos got back on track at home Wednesday night with a 4-1 win over the Notre Dame Hounds. Tristan Boileau stood on his head in the win over the Hounds making 36 saves in the victory. This week will be much busier for the Broncos as they hit the road to Wilcox Wednesday for a re-match with the Hounds and then return home for their parents’ weekend where they welcome the Melfort Mustangs Saturday and Flin Flon Bombers on Sunday.
5. Melfort Mustangs 9-8-4-0 (Last Week 7th) – The Melfort Mustangs had 9 days off, but they didn’t show any rust this past weekend over the Estevan Bruins earning a pair of dominant wins over the defending SJHL Champions. They also did it without starting goaltender Joel Favreau and had a balanced attack all weekend. Melfort will now look to build off these pair of wins and build some consistency as they return home Wednesday to host the Weyburn Red Wings and then visit the Humboldt Broncos on Saturday.
6. Estevan Bruins 13-13-0-0 (Last Week 3rd) – It was another busy week at home for the Estevan Bruins as they played another 3 games at Affinity Place. They earned a 5-3 win over Melville on Wednesday, but then dropped a pair of games to the Melfort Mustangs. Estevan has played the most games out of any team in the SJHL with 26 and their schedule will lighten over the next couple of weeks. However, the Bruins will play two big games within the division this weekend as they head to Melville on Friday and Yorkton Saturday.
7. Notre Dame Hounds 8-10-1-1 (Last Week 8th) – The Notre Dame Hounds split their two games, this week falling 4-1 in Humboldt on Wednesday, and then bouncing back with a 4-3 win over the Melville Millionaires Friday. The Hounds have had an up and down start to the month and are 2-2 so far in November. The good news for the Hounds is 4 of their 5 games remaining this month are at the Duncan McNeill Arena. This includes a match-up with the Humboldt Broncos Wednesday. Notre Dame will also travel to Yorkton Friday for another battle with the Yorkton Terriers.
8. Nipawin Hawks 8-10-1-1 (Last Week 9th) – Parents weekend for the Nipawin Hawks was a very entertaining one for the home crowd. Friday night the Hawks earned a 5-4 win in a shootout over the Kindersley Klippers in one of the most entertaining games of the year in the SJHL. Nipawin would then have their 3 game winning streak snapped Saturday when lost 7-3 to the Battlefords North Stars. Despite being one of the youngest teams in the SJHL, the Hawks are right in the thick of things when it comes to positioning for a playoff spot two months into the season. Nipawin will be home to Flin Flon Tuesday night and then hit the road for two crucial games against the Kindersley Klippers this weekend.
9. Weyburn Red Wings 8-11-0-1 (Last Week 6th) – The Weyburn Red Wings drop a couple spots in the Power Rankings this week for the sole reason that they had the week off. However, the Wings have a busy week ahead of them as they head North for 3 games in 4 nights beginning on Wednesday in Melfort against the Mustangs and two games in La Ronge Friday and Saturday.
10. Yorkton Terriers 8-11-0-0 (Last Week 9th) – The Yorkton Terriers embarked on a very difficult road trip this past week up North. They earned a split in Flin Flon against the Bombers in large part thanks to the superb goaltending of Caleb Allen Friday night who made 49 saves in a 3-1 win, but a quick turnaround the next day in La Ronge for an afternoon game resulted in a 6-1 loss. Now, after 5 straight games on the road, the Terriers will return to Westland Arena for a 4 game homestand which begins this weekend against the Hounds Friday and Bruins Saturday.
11. Kindersley Klippers 4-9-0-4 (Last Week 11th) – After 13 days off the Kindersley Klippers returned to the ice this week with a 3 game road trip. The finale of their road trip was their best performance, earning a single point in a shootout loss to the Nipawin Hawks. Kindersley has played the least amount of games in the SJHL with 17, but will make up plenty of ground over the next two weeks with games against teams not too far ahead of them in the standings. The Klippers will return home for two crucial games against Nipawin this weekend.
12. Melville Millionaires 6-13-1-1 (Last Week 12th) – A pair of tight games this past week for the Millionaires, but Melville was unable to earn a point as they dropped a 5-3 decision to Estevan Wednesday and a 4-3 loss Friday at home to Notre Dame. Melville’s losing streak is now up to 5 games and they remain 2-8-0-0 in their last 10 games. The Mills are hopeful the addition of Isaac Suppin and Ethan Antsy will help bolster their line-up as they host the Estevan Bruins this Friday in their lone game of the week.
