By Dave Leaderhouse
Cade Kowalski, F
Weyburn Red Wings
The Weyburn Red Wings knew what they were getting when Cade Kowalski came to camp last fall and the 18-year-old from Morden, Man., exceeded all of those expectations. Kowalski was one of just four Red Wing players to dress in all 58 games during the regular season and as a result led the team in scoring with 11 goals and 49 assists. Kowalski, whose output was tops among first-year players in the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League, capped off his maiden season with eight points in his final five games to help the Red Wings secure the No. 7 seed and a Wild Card playoff date with the Melville Millionaires. Kowalski’s better than a point-per-game average followed a similar line from last year when he had 63 points in 43 games with the Pembina Valley Midget AAA Hawks. Kowalski’s skills were recognized earlier this year when he was selected to compete in the inaugural Sask/Man Showcase and in two games at that event he collected another two points.
Cody Bruchkowski, F
Yorkton Terriers
It was a trying season for the Yorkton Terriers, but there were some bright spots and one of the brightest was the play of 18-year-old forward Cody Bruchkowski. The product of Cochenour, Ont., scored 14 times and added 29 assists in 53 games to finish second in team scoring and third overall amongst first-year players in the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League. Bruchkowski also picked up a pair of points when he competed with Team Schwartz at the inaugural Sask/Man Showcase in January. Prior to coming west to play in Yorkton, Bruchkowski spent a couple of seasons with the Thunder Bay Midget AAA Kings culminated by a 38-point output in 22 games last season. The Terriers are in a rebuild mold and with a player like Bruchkowski in the fold they certainly have someone to build a quality team around.
Jared Hamm, F
Notre Dame Hounds
The Notre Dame Hounds hit a bit of a rough patch on the final leg of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League’s regular season, but one player that turned it up a notch during that stretch was 18-year-old Jared Hamm. The first-year forward had 10 points over his last nine games to finish with 52 points in 52 games, the second highest point total for freshman players in the SJHL this season. Hamm was used in every situation this year as he had six power-play goals, one shorthanded effort and two game-winning tallies. Hamm joined the Hounds after a brilliant final season with the Beardy’s Blackhawks of the Saskatchewan Midget AAA Hockey League. The Warman native had 61 points in 43 games for Beardy’s last season and as a result was named to the league’s second all-star team. Hamm, who was held off the scoresheet in two games at the inaugural Sask/Man Showcase in January, will be a key player for the Hounds when they open the playoffs in the best-of-three Wild Card round against the Flin Flon Bombers.
Jacob Wasserman, G
Humboldt Broncos
It has been an eventful first year of junior hockey for Humboldt Broncos’ netminder Jacob Wasserman. The recently-turned 18-year-old started the season with a 6-2-1-0 record in his first nine appearances with his hometown Broncos and as a result was invited to try out for the Team West squad that was to compete at the World Junior “A” Challenge. Although he never made that team he was later one of two Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League players invited to compete at the Canadian Junior Hockey League’s Top Prospects Game in January. After that he was summoned by the Western Hockey League’s Regina Pats where he appeared in a pair of games and posted a 3.88 goals-against-average and .844 save percentage. Wasserman finished his season in Humboldt with a 14-9-2-3 record, a 2.69 GAA and .907 save percentage to help the Broncos claim the No. 5 seed for the postseason. Wasserman, who returned home to Humboldt after a year with the Saskatoon Blazers of the Saskatchewan Midget AAA Hockey League, will be leaned on to help provide a final line of defence as the Broncos begin their quest for a Canalta Cup championship.
Jacob Wasserman, G
Humboldt Broncos
It has been an eventful first year of junior hockey for Humboldt Broncos’ netminder Jacob Wasserman. The recently-turned 18-year-old started the season with a 6-2-1-0 record in his first nine appearances with his hometown Broncos and as a result was invited to try out for the Team West squad that was to compete at the World Junior “A” Challenge. Although he never made that team he was later one of two Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League players invited to compete at the Canadian Junior Hockey League’s Top Prospects Game in January. After that he was summoned by the Western Hockey League’s Regina Pats where he appeared in a pair of games and posted a 3.88 goals-against-average and .844 save percentage. Wasserman finished his season in Humboldt with a 14-9-2-3 record, a 2.69 GAA and .907 save percentage to help the Broncos claim the No. 5 seed for the postseason. Wasserman, who returned home to Humboldt after a year with the Saskatoon Blazers of the Saskatchewan Midget AAA Hockey League, will be leaned on to help provide a final line of defence as the Broncos begin their quest for a Canalta Cup championship.
Calvon Boots, D
Flin Flon Bombers
Playing hockey can take you places, but for Flin Flon Bomber defenceman Calvon Boots that mantra has been stretched to its fullest. Raised in Fairbanks, Alaska, Boots spent the last three years in Colorado competing with a number of teams before making the move to northern Manitoba for his freshman Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League season with Flin Flon. That move has paid off as Boots, who just turned 20 in February, had the second most points for a rookie defenceman with 29, but he had the most goals for first-year rearguards with 14. Boots played in all but three games for the Bombers this season and he also dressed for a pair of games for Team Mitchell at the inaugural Sask/Man Showcase in January where he picked up another goal. Boots will be looking to extend his season when his Bombers face the Notre Dame Hounds in the opening Wild Card round.
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