SGEU MVP of the Week: Steven Steranka, Estevan Bruins
Many would argue that Steranka is the most purely skilled player in the league, and that it was only a matter of time before the Regina kid broke out. Whatever the case, he certainly did that this past weekend, against two premium opponents. A three-point night against Melfort was followed by a five-point night vs. Humboldt, and even more important to the Bruins, two big, much-needed wins.
Week Stats: 2 GP, 3 G, 5 A, 8 pts, 5 pts vs HUM
SaskLotteries Forward of the Week: Brock Evans, Nipawin Hawks
Hawks GM Tad Kozun was thrilled to nab an all-around centreman like Evans in an off-season trade with Kindersley, and the return might already be more than he hoped for. Evans’ current 10-game point streak is the league’s longest this year, and he keeps getting hotter. His eight-point weekend was headlined by a five-point night in Friday’s demolition of the Ice Wolves, and he’s likely been the most effective forward playing a point on the power play in the league so far this year.
Week Stats: 2 GP, 3 G, 5 A, 8 pts, 5 pts vs LAR
SuperU Defenceman of the Week: Ben Morton, Warman Wolverines
After acquiring Morton in the off-season, Warman bench boss Brett Pilkington compared him favourably to the great Liam Hunks, and it’s easy to see why. The 19-year-old has missed the scoresheet in only one of the seven games he’s played in so far this year, and had three points in the Wolverines’ crazy 6-5 comeback win in La Ronge Saturday.
Week Stats: 2 GP, 1 G, 4 A, 5 pts, 3 straight multi-point games
SaskTel Goalie of the Week: Luke McKechnie, Melfort Mustangs
McKechnie has led the league in goals-against among qualified goaltenders for most of the season and sits at a minuscule 1.65 as of this writing. The Lumsden, SK native is on a four-start win streak, giving up just five goals. Always big for a Melfort goaltender: he was stellar in a win in Flin Flon over that span.
Week Stats: 2-0-0-0, 1.44 GAA, .930 SV%, wins over FF and WEY
SaskMilk Rookie of the Week: Charlie Kay, Kindersley Klippers
The former Saskatoon Contacts U18 star started slowly to the year, earning his way to more ice time, but on a veteran-laden Kindersley team, Kay now leads the Klippers in scoring. With equal parts toughness and scoring acumen, Kay is absolutely one to watch for the rest of this campaign as Kindersley looks to add depth production to the likes of Konnor Watson and Pryce Thiessen.
Week Stats: 3 GP, 4 G, 2 A, 6 pts, 4-game point streak
Canterra Seeds Saskatchewan Player of the Week: Brady Holtvogt, Humboldt Broncos (from Humboldt, Sask)
As much as the waves of firepower arriving in Humboldt over the last month or so have opened eyes, Holtvogt’s return, Humboldt’s hometown hero, might be the most impactful add of them all. Even though Friday’s game in Weyburn ended 5-0 Broncos, it was airtight for most of the contest, and Holtvogt was terrific. The competition for SaskTel Goaltender of the Year looks incredibly tough to pick this year, but Holtvogt’s name is firmly in the early running.
Week Stats: 1-0-0-0, 0.00 SV%, 1.000 GAA, 30-save shutout vs WEY on Fri
Follow the SJHL on X (@theSJHL), Instagram (@sjhlhockey), TikTok (@sjhlhockey), and Facebook today, and get your FloHockey subscription to catch all the action at FloHockey.TV.
Be sure to tune in to an all-new episode of SJHL Weekly Monday at 1:00 P.M. ST at SJHL.ca and across the SJHL Social Media Network!
