REGINA, SK – The final day of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League regular season promised drama, and boy did it ever deliver.
The final four playoff spots were decided within minutes, late into Saturday night, as events around the province transpired one by one.
Here are the Round 1 matchups for the 2024 SJHL Playoffs presented by UPL.
All eyes were on Weyburn, Kindersley, and Humboldt.
At the Elgar Petersen Arena, the Broncos were led by a goal and an assist from Maddox Amaral and completed a weekend sweep of the Flin Flon Bombers with a 4-1 win. Air Force Academy Division I NCAA commit Ben Motew was wonderful in making 35 saves in the victory. The two points secured Humboldt third place, regardless of what Battlefords did on the night.
In Kindersley, the Klippers needed at least a point to avoid finishing eighth. Their hopes were shattered, however, by a three-goal third-period rally by the Battlefords North Stars, as the defending champions scored twice in a minute mid-way through the frame. The span included the game-winner from Elijah Anderson at the 10:45 mark.
The final game of consequence to the standings was in Weyburn as the Estevan Bruins grabbed the winner via Ilia Chmelevski’s 30th of the year with 4:26 remaining in regulation to secure seventh. The Bruins outshot a Wings team technically playing for nothing 41-17 – 18-4 in the third period – and found a way to win 5-4.
Colby Ball nabbed the shootout winner to secure the Parks Cup for the Millionaires as Melville downed the Yorkton Terriers 4-3.
In La Ronge, Jacob Hufty got one over on his old team as he notched the shootout winner to hand the Ice Wolves a 2-1 win over the Melfort Mustangs to end their campaign.
Highlights to come tomorrow.
Humboldt 4 Flin Flon 1
(highlights unavailable)
Estevan 5 Weyburn 4
Battlefords 3 Kindersley 2
Melville 4 Yorkton 3 (SO)
La Ronge 2 Melfort 1 (SO)
The post-season schedule is to be released next week! Be sure to tune into the SJHL Weekly’s Playoff Preview show on Wednesday at 1 P.M. across the league socials!
