The Bombers’ one game so far had a teachable moment as the defending champs went down 1-0 to La Ronge within 27 seconds, but went fairly smoothly afterward as contributions from returning stars Jack Martin and Leo Seitz, and expected big-time rookie producer Dylan Caron, paced Flin Flon to the 6-2 win. Shout out to Cole McCaig for his first career win as a head coach, and the return of Finn Werner from the Western League in net means all is well ahead of the Bombers’ big Hall of Fame and alumni weekend coming up.

Kindersley went into the weekend with the chip on their shoulder they promised and were wildly impressive in a 3-1 win that spoiled the home opener for their arch-rival Battlefords North Stars. New star acquisition Konnor Watson got off the goal-scoring schnide right away, and Mattias Radke looked like perhaps the most solid goaltender in the league at the minute. The fact they beat old pal Nathan Claydon in the Stars’ net was likely not lost on Kyle Schneider’s men.

Did the Terriers deserve more pre-season respect given their run to the final last year? Probably. Their 6-2 win over Estevan was closer than the scoreline suggested, but veterans Austin Horbachewsky and Jake Briltz look to have taken big steps forward and embraced bigger roles this campaign. Tyson Medernach’s return from the Western League’s Wenatchee Wild means he’s got as good a shot as anybody at a Rookie of the Year candidacy after his shot dominated U18AAA a year ago. The Terriers love the ‘Us vs the World’ narrative, and they got off on the right foot last weekend in front of a packed house in Yorkton.

Expectations are rightly enormous for Connor Logan’s North Stars, and they bounced back from the loss vs. Kindersley with a tremendous final 40 minutes and a 4-1 win Saturday against Nipawin. They will play their first four of five games, and six of eight, at home, so if this talented, experienced group can build momentum early here, look out. The attack was balanced, though talisman Finlay Klippenstein did get off the mark with a goal against the Klippers, and this team will have a target on their back every night.

Much like Battlefords, Weyburn had a mixed bag after splitting a home-and-home with Bunge Division rival Melville on opening weekend. Head coach/GM Cody Mapes is adamant that power forward Trennen Redlick is a star if he can stay consistently healthy, and he’s already shown that with a pair of multi-point outings. Predicted rookie sensation Ethan Berard was fantastic in net in Saturday’s win in Melville, and the core is so settled that overlooking the Wings on any given night against anybody would be a huge mistake.

There is an argument to be made that the Mils deserved to win both nights of opening weekend vs. Weyburn, but they managed only a single goal on 11 high xG chances Saturday at home, which derailed that hope. The Wings’ goaltender deserved plenty of credit for that, but the balance of scoring and the play of new No. 1 goaltender Noah Kraus is a very promising sign for Doug Johnson and crew. They also seem quite bought in to Johnson’s methods already, so like every year since Doug took over, it’s on this team to stick with it for a full campaign.

It is likely too early for statements like this, but from top to bottom there is a great chance this is the best team Brett Pilkington has had in his seven years at the helm of the Notre Dame Hounds/Warman Wolverines. They were wildly impressive outside the first 10 minutes of both games vs. Humboldt this weekend, and definitely deserved a better fate in the home opener Friday after rallying from down 3-0. Luke Brunen looks like a far improved version of himself from when we last saw him in the sticks in Melville a couple of years ago, and led by Carter Bergen and Trey Markus up front, this team looks to mean business. Last year’s challenge was stringing results together, so can they do it again? We will find out!

The Ice Wolves’ off-season can be categorized more as a leadership transformation than a roster overhaul, and the work of Taylor Harnett as head coach and Bob Beatty as GM paid off immediately with a solid win Saturday at home vs. Melfort. La Ronge has three of four home games in September, albeit against some of the league’s most talented teams, but the line of Will Knox between Everett Merchant and Grayden Perozni looks as dynamic as any in the league so far. They have an enormous chip on their collective shoulders, but if they can play like they did Saturday regularly, they will earn some of that respect their great fanbase has been clamouring for for years.

Given the talent this team can bring to bear, the first weekend’s performances vs. the Wolverines were likely below what head coach/GM Brayden Klimosko will hope from this group moving forward. Still, they found a way to win in Warman Friday for legendary trainer Skip Deeg’s 1400th career game on the bench, and the power line of Connor Miller between Oliver Phillips and Cody Farrell showed glimpses of the danger they can pose every time they jump the bench. Their set with Battlefords this weekend will be a fascinating watch.

Like many teams in opening weekend, Trevor Blevins’ Mustangs had an up-and-down weekend. An impressive win against Nipawin in the home opener, in which the top line of Dru Mushumanski, Luke Dekay, and Tristin Ziola were at times unstoppable, had the fanbase dreaming of two years ago. A tough loss the next night in La Ronge, perhaps less so. Still, it’s too early to draw any conclusions, and that the uber-talented Mushumanski has hit the ground running is a huge boon for the ‘Stangs. It would be shocking if the Mustangs stayed this low in the rankings for long.

The sample size this year is too small, so the jumps and falls are big, and perhaps no more is exemplified than the Nipawin Hawks. The absence of predicted superstar goaltender Gage Roberts was part of the story, but not all of it, as the team lacked zip in many of the two opening-weekend defeats. It’s way, way too early to be worried about this group that does and should have championship aspirations, but you have to think practice won’t be too fun at the Cage this week.

One game and one loss in Yorkton’s home opener is way too little to draw any serious conclusion about the Bruins. Reigning SaskU18AAA scoring champ Gunner Moore wasted no time finding the back of the net – his scoring ability is as advanced as anybody’s in the SJHL already – and Steven Steranka’s partnership with Nathaniel Harvey atop this squad will be worth the price of admission at Affinity Place. A big home-and-home with arch rivals Weyburn looms this weekend.