Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League

SJHL Power Rankings Jan 24th

The SJHL Power Rankings are decided each and every week by a group of SJHL broadcasters and will be released each Tuesday.

1. Battlefords North Stars 34-3-2-1 (Last Week 1st) – For the first time since the beginning of the season, there was some good debate on who would be at the top of the SJHL Power Rankings this week. However, despite going 1-2 this past week and dropping two games to the Humboldt Broncos, the Battlefords North Stars remain at the top of the mountain…for now. The Stars missed their entire number one line Friday in Humboldt and despite 2/3’s of the line returning Saturday, they couldn’t get a different result. Battlefords will look to get back in the win column Tuesday night when they host the La Ronge Ice Wolves. They will also be on the road this weekend for games in Yorkton and Melville.

2. Humboldt Broncos 26-11-1-0 (Last Week 3rd) – The team who almost overtook the Battlefords North Stars this week for the top spot was the Humboldt Broncos. 3 games and 3 wins this past week for Humboldt, including a pair of victories over the North Stars. Since the holiday break, the Broncos are 6-2 with wins over plenty of teams around them in the standings. They will look to extend their four game winning streak Friday night when they visit the Melville Millionaires. They will also travel to Melfort Saturday for another meeting with the Mustangs.

3. La Ronge Ice Wolves 25-13-3-1 (Last Week 6th) – It was a bounce back week for the La Ronge Ice Wolves at home as they earned 7 out of a possible 8 points and as a result they have climbed all the way up to 2nd in the SJHL standings. This week won’t be any easier for the Ice Wolves as they hit the road to Battlefords Tuesday night for a match-up with the Stars, and then they will play a home and home with the red hot Nipawin Hawks this weekend.

4. Flin Flon Bombers 24-10-2-1 (Last Week 4th) – Just the one game for the Flin Flon Bombers this past week, but they earned a big two points at home with a 5-2 victory over the Notre Dame Hounds. Cole Duperreault had a hat trick in the win, and Zach Cain scored his 2nd goal as a Bomber, but first on home ice.. This coming week is a big one for the Bombers as they play 3 games against a pair of teams competing with them in that battle between 2-6 in the standings. Tuesday they will be on the road in Melfort and then return home for a pair of games against the Estevan Bruins this weekend.

5. Melfort Mustangs 20-12-5-2 (Last Week 5th) – This past week was a bit of a mixed bag for the Melfort Mustangs who earned 3 out of a possible 6 points. They split their home and home with the Notre Dame Hounds and then followed it up with a 3-2 shootout loss Saturday to the Yorkton Terriers. However, while the Mustangs are competing for home ice advantage in the first round, they have to keep an eye on the Nipawin Hawks who are slowly catching up to the top 6. Melfort will host Flin Flon Tuesday, visit Weyburn Friday, and host Humboldt Saturday.

6. Nipawin Hawks 20-17-1-1 (Last Week 7th) – While they may not be in the top 6 of the SJHL standings, they are in the top 6 of the Power Rankings. The Hawks won all three of their games this past week by the score of 3-2 and are now just 5 points back of the Melfort Mustangs for 6th. Nipawin is 6-1 since the holiday break and have won 5 straight, which is the longest winning streak right now in the SJHL. They will look to make it 6 straight when they host the Yorkton Terriers Tuesday before battling the La Ronge Ice Wolves this weekend in a home and home.

7. Estevan Bruins 23-17-1-2 (Last Week 2nd) – It was a tough weekend up North for the Estevan Bruins as they earned just one out of a possible four points in La Ronge against the Ice Wolves. The good news for Estevan is one bad weekend won’t put them out of the race for home ice in the first round, but they will be hoping to earn more than just one point this coming weekend as they head back out on the road to Flin Flon for a pair against the Bombers. Friday will mark the first time the Bruins have been up to Flin Flon since the SJHL Final last year.

8. Weyburn Red Wings 16-20-0-1 (Last Week 9th) – The winged wheel is officially rolling. The Wings swept their weekend home and home with the Melville Millionaires and now have sole possession of the 8th and final playoff spot going into the week. Ryley Morgan has continued to light the lamp since being acquired from La Ronge, Ty Mason is red hot, and Jacob Kalin has goals in 7 of his last 8 games. Weyburn will return home this week for a trio of contests beginning Tuesday against Kindersley. They will also host Melfort Friday and another game with Kindersley Saturday.

9. Notre Dame Hounds 13-18-3-2 (Last Week 8th) – The Notre Dame Hounds are on the outside looking in when it comes to the playoff picture going into this week. The Hounds earned 3 points this past week as they boasted a 1-2-1-0 record, but struggled on a difficult 3 game in 3 night road trip. Notre Dame though will now begin a crucial point in their schedule and season as they begin an eight game homestand Wednesday night at the Duncan McNeill Arena as they host the Kindersley Klippers. They will also meet the Klippers on Friday.

10. Yorkton Terriers 14-24-0-1 (Last Week 11th) – The Yorkton Terriers were finally able to secure their first win of 2023 Saturday night at home as they picked up a 3-2 shootout win over the Melfort Mustangs. Going into this week the Terriers are four points behind Weyburn for the 8th and final playoff spot and unfortunately for them they have played more games than both the Hounds and Wings. Yorkton will hit the road Tuesday as they meet the Hawks in Nipawin and then will return home Friday for a showdown with the Battlefords North Stars.

11. Melville Millionaires 10-23-5-1 (Last Week 10th) –  In a similar situation to the Yorkton Terriers are the Melville Millionaires. The difference though is Melville has more ground to make up if they want to catch Weyburn for 8th. Going into this week, the Mills are 7 points back of the Wings following their 2 losses (one in overtime) this past weekend. It won’t get easier either for Melville as they host Humboldt Friday and Battlefords Saturday.

12. Kindersley Klippers 7-21-2-5 (Last Week 12th) – It was a great atmosphere in Rosetown Saturday night as the community welcomed the Kindersley Klippers and the Nipawin Hawks for a neutral site game. Unfortunately, the Klippers couldn’t give the Rosetown faithful a win as they lost 3-2 in a shootout. Going into this week the Kindersley Klippers are 12 points out of a playoff spot and if they have hopes of getting back in the playoff race this week is crucial. 4 games in 5 nights against two teams that are currently occupying 8th and 9th in the SJHL standings. The trip begins Tuesday night in Weyburn against the Wings.