September-October 2026, SJHL Players of the Month

SGEU MVP of the Month: Mason Karakochuk, Nipawin Hawks

Nothing in life or hockey is perfectly linear, but Karakochuk’s development into a dominant offensive player has continued unbroken since the end of last season. He was, after all, last February’s SGEU MVP of the Month as well, and has wreaked havoc on the league so far this campaign. Now 20, the Saskatoon native already has 16 goals on the year; his career high from a year ago was 22…he’s almost there in 33 fewer games! His partnership with Brock Evans has been magical to behold, and terrorizing if you’re trying to stop them. There are a bunch of top forwards in our league this year, but Mason might be the crème de la crème.

Month Stats: 14 GP, 16 G, 5 A, 21 pts, goals in 11/14 games

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SaskLotteries Forward of the Month: Brock Evans, Nipawin Hawks

Evans’ move from Kindersley in exchange for sniper Connor Watson raised some eyebrows this off-season; how was Nipawin going to replace Watson’s offence? Well, no problem really. Already a veteran of 207 regular-season SJHL games, Evans, of Warman, SK, has taken his playmaking abilities up another notch while playing between the at-times unplayable Mason Karakochuk on the left and the toolsy big rookie Austin Mori-Goodman on the right. Evans has been a force in the face-off dot, and at the left point on the Nipawin man advantage where he already has six power-play assists. The Evans move has clearly paid off even better than Head Coach/GM Tad Kozun could have hoped.

Month Stats: 14 GP, 4 G, 19 A, 23 pts, leads the league in assists/points.

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SuperU Defenceman of the Month: Jaxson Doyle, Weyburn Red Wings

Every hockey coach wants a top-end, minute-munching No. 1 defence pairing they can trust in any situation, and head coach Cody Mapes can put his head on his pillow every night smiling because he has that and then some. Doyle and his fellow experienced partner in crime, Jonah Bierd, have been terrific for the Wings so far. At a +10 rating and leading the league in defenceman scoring, Doyle has taken massive leaps in confidence and production for the Wings, and at a healthy 23:14 per game so far this year, the opportunity for the big, physical Albertan to keep developing his game is certainly there. He gets his points by staying within his game, trusting his teammates, and playing elite defence, and he’s a terrific example to all the young defencemen in the league.

Month Stats: 17 GP, 7 G, 9 A, 16 pts, leads all defencemen in goals and points.

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SaskTel Goalie of the Month: Luke McKechnie, Melfort Mustangs

It’s hard to find superlatives big enough to describe how dominant McKechnie has been in his return to Sask this year after his season in the Alberta league in 25-26. Surely he’d be the first to admit that the Mustangs are playing outstanding defensive hockey as a team in front of him, but the numbers are gaudy and deserve the recognition he is getting. His two shutouts are tied for the most in the league, but his GAA and save percentage are so far ahead of any other qualified goaltenders that it borders on the absurd.

Roberts Month Stats: 8-2-0-0, 1.48 GAA, .941 SV%, 2 SO, 5/10 starts of one or fewer goals.

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SaskMilk Rookie of the Month: Ryan Gibbs, Weyburn Red Wings

Take penalties against the Weyburn Red Wings at your own risk, because Gibbs and his pals will hurt you. No team in the league has more power play goals than the Wings, 20 at the time of this writing, and the skilled rookie has points on 11 of those. He keys the top unit on the left half-wall, and his shot accuracy is as good as any in the SJHL at any age. The Moose Jaw product has not missed a beat in junior after shredding the Sask U18AAA league last year, and will be a key piece on Team SJHL’s entry into the 2026 Western All-Star Challenge the week ahead.

Month Stats: 17 GP, 9 G, 13 A, 22 PTS, leads the league in rookie scoring.

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Canterra Seeds Saskatchewan Player of the Month: Trey Markus, Warman Wolverines (from Warman, Sask)

October was a magical month for the SJHL’s No. 1 team in Warman, and the local boy Markus was right in the middle of it all. Whenever coach Brett Pilkington has needed someone to make something positive happen this year, he has called on No. 9, and Markus has delivered far more often than not. The Wolverines want to be a front-footed, aggressive, fast, physical team, and Markus is all that to a T. He has worn his hometown jersey with pride and has all the tools to be considered one of the top forwards in the CJHL.

Month Stats: 15 GP, 10 G, 11 A, 21 PTS, leads 1^st place in WAR in PTS.