Coaches and Media voted on award winners across the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League.
SGEU Most Valuable Player/Bourgault Forward of the Year: Ewan Rennie, Estevan Bruins
The 20-year-old from White Rock, BC has been nothing short of immense for the Bruins this season, taking a vast majority of their faceoffs, centring perhaps the best line in the league (between veteran power forward Rylan Williams and rookie Cash Olson), and leading the league with 31 power-play points. The Bruins went on a long losing streak when he was hurt, but proved time and again they can beat anybody when he’s in the lineup. As crafty and intelligent an offensive player the league has seen this decade, Rennie led the league in points a lot of the season, and is well deserving of both the MVP and Forward of the Year honours.
Regular Season Stats: 53 GP – 37 G, 41 A – 78 PTS
SuperU Defenceman of the Year: Thomas Ries, Yorkton Terriers
Ries finished tied for first with fellow Highway 10 rival Boston Harkness from Melville in defenceman points, and averaged just under 24 minutes per game in the meantime while earning a whopping +33 rating, proving his dominance at both ends of the ice. Strong as an ox, mobile, and highly competitive, Ries’ terrific play earned him one of the limited 19-year-old spots at Team Canada West’s silver medal-winning side at the 2025 Junior A World Challenge. He is a critical reason the Terriers were as consistent as any team in the league this year.
Regular Season Stats: 52 GP – 16 G, 32 A – 48 PTS
SaskTel Goaltender of the Year: Charlie Tritt, Flin Flon Bombers
Acquired by the Bombers at the deadline in a blockbuster move between Flin Flon and Humboldt, Tritt has been widely considered the top net minder in the league from start to finish this season. Now 21 years old, the BC native parlayed his brilliant campaign into a commitment to Lake Superior State University of NCAA Division I for next season, and will have to play a central role if the Bombers are to bring the SJHL championship back to Manitoba for the first time since 1993.
Regular Season Stats: 34 GP – 23-9-2-0 – 2.12 GAA, .934 SV%, 5 SO
SaskMilk Rookie of the Year: Cash Lanigan, Yorkton Terriers
The 2008-born native of Regina keeps going from strength to strength, winning the Telus Cup (U18 National Championship) with the Regina Pat Canadians last year, and then earning his way into a critical, all-around, mature role for the high-flying Terriers this campaign. His point production and age did not stop him from playing a highly physical game, as he finished sixth among rookies in penalty minutes (100), on top of finishing second among rookies in points. He has also found himself on Yorkton’s top power-play unit and has played a big role in helping the Terriers to the league’s second-best man advantage.
Regular Season Stats: 55 GP – 19 G, 29 A – 48 PTS
Canterra Seeds Saskatchewan Player of the Year: Boston Harkness, Melville Millionaires (from White City, Sask)
Harkness is one of the most complete, mature players in the whole league, and as much as he is a big factor offensively for the Millionaires, he also plays a tough, shutdown game through 24:33 of ice time per contest. Tied with Yorkton’s Ries for the league lead in defenceman points, Harkness also won about 60% of his puck battles and was a key piece of Team SJHL’s Viking Cup championship. He is the league’s active leader in overall SJHL games played, with 223 regular-season games and 9 playoff games through his four-year career.
Regular Season Stats: 54 GP – 10 G, 38 A – 48 PTS
SCSA Coach of the Year: Connor Logan, Battlefords North Stars
The 29-year-old from Victoria, BC, becomes the first rookie head coach to win Coach of the Year honours since Clayton Jardine did it at the helm of the Kindersley Klippers in 2018-19. Employing an entertaining, high-octane style, Logan has harnessed the strongest parts of his deep roster into a winning formula and a No. 3 seed throughout the postseason. He also becomes the third coach of the year in a row to win the award while coaching the team he played for, following Trevor Blevins of Melfort last year and Mike Reagan of Flin Flon the year before.
Regular Season Team Record: 35-14-4-2, No. 3 seed
Leo Parker Award for SJHL Regular Season scoring champion: Gabriel Courchesne, Yorkton Terriers
Centring a line with Jye Zawatsky and William Leonard, the 2006-born pivot has dominated from the drop of the puck in the pre-season, and snuck ahead of Rennie for the league leader in points only late in the season (Rennie did miss some time to injury as well). Courchesne, the former Quebec Remparts QMJHLer, also led the league in assists and game-winning goals (8) and was a massive reason the Terriers were able to compensate right away for the loss of last year’s litany of offensive stars.
Regular Season Stats: 56 GP – 33 G, 47 A – 80 PTS
SJHL Most Sportsmanlike Award: Kale Margolis, Melville Millionaires
Margolis came a few weeks into the season from the Western Hockey League and made an immediate impact atop the Mils’ line-up. A centreman who wins almost all his draws and plays hard in all three zones, his ability to convert his chances at a high rate is rarely matched across the SJHL. His discipline was remarkable this season, as he picked up only a single penalty of any kind all year, a slashing minor Feb. 28 in Estevan.
Regular Season Stats: 51 GP – 17 G, 38 A – 55 PTS; 2 Penalty Minutes
Dayna Brons Sherwood Athletic Therapist of the Year: Jayden Villafane, Kindersley Klippers
Villafane, of Port Alberni, BC, joined the Klippers this past off-season, and his work ethic, passion, and personability helped him get noticed very quickly. The 26-year-old was not only outstanding for the Klippers; he also did an incredible job as the Athletic Therapist for Team SJHL at both the Western All-Star Challenge in Martensville in November and the 2026 Viking Cup in Camrose, AB.
IKS Referee of the Year: Troy Semenchuk, Prince Albert, SK
From SJHL Senior Manager of Player Safety and Standard of Play Paul Raycroft:
On behalf of the SJHL officiating programs, I am proud to recognize Troy Semenchuk as our Referee of the Year. Troy exemplifies what it means to be an elite official—his communication is clear and composed, and he has a remarkable ability to manage the game’s flow while upholding the rules’ integrity.
Troy is a true professional in all aspects of his officiating career. His success extends beyond hockey, where he has also distinguished himself as a CFL official, earning the honour of working two Grey Cups.
Troy is a leader within our officiating group and a standard-bearer for excellence. This recognition truly reflects his commitment, skill, and passion for officiating.
SJHL Linesperson of the Year: Alex Clarke, Drake, SK
From SJHL Senior Manager of Player Safety and Standard of Play Paul Raycroft:
We are proud to recognize Alex Clarke as our Linesperson of the Year. Alex’s consistency and exceptional communication skills make her a standout in every game she works. Alex has tremendous character and carries herself with the integrity expected of an elite official.
Alex’s success at the highest levels of officiating directly reflects her character, work ethic, dedication, and focus. She approaches every opportunity with professionalism and commitment. Her ability to prepare, adapt, and perform under pressure has opened doors to elite opportunities, including the WHL and AHL, as well as national and international stages such as the Esso Cup, IIHF Women’s World Championship, and the Winter Olympics. Alex’s journey is a testament to the standard she sets for herself and the consistency with which she meets it.
Alex is truly a benchmark for excellence amongst our officiating staff.
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