It has been over a month, at the time of this writing, since the Mils lost in regulation (Oct. 9), and on only one occasion in that eight-game span did they drop any points. Impressive wins this past week against premium opposition in Warman and Nipawin only reinforce the notion that Doug Johnson’s crew are the hottest team in the league. The ability to smother teams physically and defensively has been there all year, but the offence, centred around depth more than a star or two, is starting to fly now as well.

Despite the large number of home games between mid-October and mid-November, the Mustangs have been flying lately. The outstanding performances of Eric Grandberg and Xavier Doane at the 2026 Western All-Star Challenge are indicative of their ability, but also of the confidence the Mustangs as a whole have been riding through this five-game unbeaten run. Trevor Blevins’ team had only one game to play between Oct. 28 and Nov. 13, so time to rest, recover, and practice should only put them in even better shape than before. A well-attended home shootout win over the Yorkton Terriers Saturday was another affirmation for Luke McKechnie’s elite status in net.

The league’s top team in the standings took care of business to end October, but hit a bit of a blip to start November with losses in two of the last three. Warman’s ability to bounce back Saturday in Flin Flon after falling Friday at the Whitney Forum was impressive, but the tests continue to come thick and fast from a tough stretch of opponents in November. This group has shown remarkable grit and determination this year, but needs greater discipline after giving up an uncharacteristically high number of goals on the penalty kill this past week.

The Hawks have been outstanding most of the year, and the combination of Brock Evans and Mason Karakochuk at the top of the roster looks unstoppable at times. The one exception to these rules, perhaps, is when they come up against the Melville Millionaires, whom the Hawks have faced and lost two of their last three contests. Still, Tad Kozun’s men have three straight at home, and in the league at home, they have scored the most goals, have the best power play and the best goal differential, along with a 6-1 record. So, confidence should be high, capped off by a date at Centennial Arena against… the Melville Millionaires.

Last week’s two-game set against the Weyburn Red Wings was goal-filled and physical, as expected, and now, with Carsyn Dyck in the fold after a long Western League career, one wonders when the Broncos’ roster turnover will end. Certainly, they have loaded up, and they can’t be blamed for trying to build the best team they can, but consistent performance despite their immense talent hasn’t come as easily as might have been thought. Four of the next five are at home, so perhaps it’s a perfect time to see what this potential behemoth could become.

The Bombers’ four-game win streak was snapped on Saturday vs. Warman, but the fact that this team keeps humming along despite remarkable injury problems says a lot about the character in the room and the depth the culture in Flin Flon allows. Ten of the last 13 games have been at the Whitney Forum, so they’ve made some hay there, and how about the breakout years so far of Jared Miskiw and Hudson Brehaut, in the vacuum of some very key injuries. Finn Werner continues to be remarkable in net for this team.

Cody Mapes’ men are in a stretch of nine out of 10 games away from home, which would be an issue for almost every other team, but the Wings are the league’s best road club at the time of this writing. Still, the strength of opposition to start November is brutal, as are injuries at a few key spots, but this group has no excuses with the talent and core built over years of winning and deep playoff runs. Avery Johnson’s arrival from the BCHL is timely, giving the team a legitimate veteran first-line centre, and Mapes is always on the hunt to make his roster better. The trip to Nipawin Wednesday evening will be a fascinating watch: one of the league’s best home teams vs. the league’s best on the road.

If there’s a contender for ‘best home team’ with the Nipawin Hawks, it would have to be the Terriers, who are 5-0 at the SoakZone Auto Spa Arena. Yet two defeats in a row, both on the road, have them in a spot to learn a lot about how to bounce back over the next four-and-a-half games away from home. A busy week ahead has Emery Olauson’s men up north for a four-game, five-day trip, but they’ll be building off a strong performance in a shootout loss in Melfort last Saturday.

Could this past week’s pair of wins in a home-and-home with Kindersley be the jumpstart this group needed? We’ll find out. Young Chase Kettles was terrific in net in both games, and a quieter start to the month might be what this club needs to reboot the campaign and get on the track their high talent level deserves. Michiel Leenders has quietly been one of the league’s most consistent rookie forwards, though his four-point outburst Saturday didn’t surprise those who know him in the Stars organization.

Just like with Battlefords, Estevan has been looking to kickstart the campaign in the right direction, and a three-in-three up north had its ups and downs. The addition of Nathan Gardiner, whose rights were acquired previously from Melville, paid big dividends in his call-up debut Saturday in La Ronge, and three points from four at the home of the Wolves will have to be enough to bolster this extremely young group with the white-hot Melville Millionaires in town Wednesday. Up and down the Bruins might be, but Steven Steranka’s 22-point streak over eight games has been nothing short of remarkable. At the very least, he is one of the league’s most dangerous men, and many would argue he’s it.

The best news outside three points from a split with Estevan on the weekend is the returns from injury of captain Ryder McKinnon and veteran forward Connor Hoemsen. Taylor Harnett’s men rallied from down 3-0 early to beat the Bruins Sunday, as Tyce Penrod tied the game with 12 seconds remaining in regulation, then notched the only goal in the shootout. There is a lot of quality youth to like and watch with this group, and while there is still time to make noise this year, keeping this core together long term could be tantalizing for a fan base hungry for a competitor.

It can easily be argued that the Klippers played only the league’s best teams throughout October, and paid the price with the slump they are in. Still, two losses to West Sask Rival Battlefords have the team reeling, and the schedule doesn’t get any kinder until the end of November. Still, there is plenty of experience in this group, one to which GM Ryan Gibson continues to add, and there is no way this is the 12th most talented squad in the league.