The weather is cold; the playoff races are hot. Let’s go.
A group of SJHL media decides the power rankings.
1. Melfort Mustangs (36-7-0) (Last week 2nd)
The Mustangs had a busy four-game-in-five-day week, but that was no problem, as the nation’s No. 6 team picked up all eight points. With two games on Flin Flon, they’re also six points ahead in first place.
2. Flin Flon Bombers (31-10-4) (Last week 1st)
Flin Flon’s long unbeaten in regulation streak was snapped last Tuesday, but two solid wins over Estevan later, and the mighty Bombers are back on track.
3. Weyburn Red Wings (28-14-2) (Last week 3rd)
February has not been kind to the Wings, with three losses from four. A tough couple of games in La Ronge yielded two big points this past week to maintain some distance in third ahead of Yorkton, but that has shrunken to a mere three points when it looked pretty comfortable last week.
4. Yorkton Terriers (27-16-1) (Last week 4th)
Despite another significant defection this past week, this time from Dustin Renas, the Terriers keep chugging. Back-to-back home wins this weekend over Battlefords and North Dame help Yorkton keep pace with Weyburn for third and well-ahead for the final home-ice advantage spot.
5. Melville Millionaires (23-19-3) (Last week 6th)
It was a quiet week for the Mils, who cruised by Notre Dame Saturday to stay perfect in February, with a lengthy home stand taking up most of the month’s schedule. A massive weekend set at the CN Community Centre with Kindersley looms.
6. Humboldt Broncos (23-18-3) (Last week 5th)
The Broncos were flying to start February but ran into a serious roadblock called “Cody Jaman” in the Kindersley net on Saturday. Coach Brayden Klimosko accurately said on Friday’s Game of the Month that the Broncos were never playing poorly this year; they are getting some of the bounces they were not earlier in the year. The rest of February will certainly test them.
7. Kindersley Klippers (22-20-3) (Last week, 7th)
The wildly up and down season for the Klippers continues. A tough loss Friday at home to Humboldt was followed by a solid shutout win over the Broncos at the EPA Saturday. They feel safe to make the post-season eight points ahead in the final playoff spot, but the add of Mason Bueckert at the deadline meant they wanted more than just eighth. A massive weekend in Melville looms.
8. Battlefords North Stars (22-18-5) (Last week 8th)
The North Stars took advantage of a struggling Notre Dame team this week with a pair of wins and then fell in a tight one in Yorkton on the weekend. This truly feels like the one team that could finish anywhere from third to eighth. A big set with intense rivals Humboldt is ahead.
9. La Ronge Ice Wolves (18-22-3) (Last week 9th)
The Wolves played well in February and were rewarded five possible eight points. A split with Weyburn was well-earned this past weekend, but is it too little, too late for the playoffs?
10. Estevan Bruins (14-23-6) (Last week 10th)
A trip to the Whitney Forum in Flin Flon isn’t easy for anyone, but they certainly acquitted themselves well while the Bruins lost both. Drew Kocur has this group playing hard for him, so let’s see if they can keep building that base for the future.
11. Nipawin Hawks (9-29-6) (Last week 11th)
The Hawks had another signature win last week, blanking the Flin Flon Bombers and ending their long unbeaten run. A point from a pair against Melfort followed, but this group continues to play hard for Tad Kozun and each other.
12. Notre Dame Hounds (11-28-4) (Last week 12th)
The Hounds skid sits at eight games now, though they showed late fight in both games this weekend in Melville and Yorkton. Young Pherson Loehndorf has been terrific on the back end in the vacuum left by the Hounds, sending away their Top 4 defencemen throughout the season.
