The Trade Deadline has come and gone, with a few immediate impacts!
A group of SJHL media decides the power rankings.
1. Melfort Mustangs (29-5-0) (Last week 1st)
The epic win streak of 17 straight is over courtesy of a loss to Battlefords last Tuesday, but they showed their championship quality the next time out with a solid 5-1 win over fellow contenders Yorkton. Head Coach/GM Trevor Blevins stood pat at the deadline, and given the completeness of this roster, it appears a smart move.
2. Flin Flon Bombers (23-9-3) (Last week 2nd)
Flin Flon maintained its unbeaten run and moved it to 19 games without a regulation loss with three more wins this past week, two at the always-tough confines of Humboldt’s Elgar Petersen Arena. The Bombers’ acquisition of Liam Hunks from Notre Dame marked the best defenceman add of the trade deadline.
3. Weyburn Red Wings (21-10-2) (Last week 4th)
The newly healthy Wings have won four in a row, surviving a genuine scare from the Notre Dame Hounds at home Saturday before a dominant third-period rally. Trading Dazza Mitchell, their long-time goaltender, to Humboldt must have been painful, but the return of Josh Sale and Ty Matonovich does look solid. Throw in WHL tough guy Matty Edwards, who was brought in from Spokane, and the Wings roster looks ready to roll.
4. Yorkton Terriers (22-12-1) (Last week 3rd)
The Terriers have played six games in the last 12 days and did not come out unscathed, losing three of those, all to top opposition. They were the other quiet team at the deadline alongside Melfort, but this group has shown remarkable resilience throughout this campaign, to go with their at-times unstoppable offensive ability.
5. Kindersley Klippers (19-15-2) (Last week 6th)
There is a good argument that the Klippers won the deadline by acquiring veteran premium scorer Mason Bueckert from La Ronge. Clayton Jardine’s men showed the boost Bueckert’s arrival gave them immediately with a dominant pair of wins over the Nipawin Hawks this past weekend. Kindersley’s only hiccup in the new year was a somewhat flat performance in a shootout loss at home to Notre Dame last Tuesday.
6. Battlefords North Stars (19-12-5) (Last week 5th)
Battleford’s up-and-down campaign continues, but with six games in nine days over the last stretch, injuries, and the absence of their star forward Nikita Ivaschenko to his national team, it has not been an easy time at the ACC. Still, they have overcome their fair share of adversity, and if the bulk of their talent can return soon, they will be right back to being as dangerous as anybody. Their last week was highlighted with an epic, shorthanded win over Melfort to snap the defending champs’ 17-game win streak, but also saw losses to Notre Dame and Yorkton.
7. Humboldt Broncos (15-17-2) (Last week, 7th)
Humboldt will likely be frustrated with its pair of home losses to Flin Flon this past weekend, but it didn’t play poorly, and new goaltender Dazza Mitchell was sensational. The Broncos have made many moves lately, especially around the deadline, bringing in the experience of Estevan captain Cade Kennedy up front and Melville defender Liam Rodman on the back end. Despite a perceived lack of results, the Broncos are still as deep and solid a roster as they are in the league.
8. Melville Millionaires (16-18-3) (Last week 9th)
The Mils’ tough go in January was halted this past week with a solid win in Estevan and a strong performance despite the loss at home to Battlefords. Reinforcements have arrived from the AJHL, as Doug Johnson used his considerable connections to strengthen the squad. If they keep playing the hard-nosed, relentlessly defensive style Johnson’s teams always bring, they will be no fun for anyone.
9. La Ronge Ice Wolves (15-18-1) (Last week 8th)
It is hard to imagine how tough it was for Kevin Kaminski to deal their veteran star Mason Bueckert at the deadline, so the fact their trade deadline-day game vs. Melfort was postponed was probably good timing; some time to regroup might be perfect for the Wolves. They dealt the Bombers a rare blow in Flin Flon last Sunday, where they won in overtime, so the belief at the core of this group must be enormous.
10. Notre Dame Hounds (10-20-3) (Last week 12th)
Notre Dame’s January schedule is demanding, but the month has started well for Brett Pilkington’s young group. They beat Kindersley and Battlefords on the road this past week, then were 20 minutes from a big win in Weyburn. The return on their trade of Liam Hunks to Flin Flon looks terrific, as Evin Bossel and Wylie Smith made significant impacts right away, and the same can be said for Luke Lawford, whom they got from Estevan and Peyton Allard from Melville.
11. Estevan Bruins (11-16-4) (Last week 11th)
There were all sorts of guesses about what Jason Tatarnic would do at the deadline, but this is nothing like a rebuild. They kept Kieran Ronan and most of their veterans, except captain Cade Kennedy and defenceman Michael Carter. Still, the haul of players they brought in, including three from the Western Hockey League, looks like a massive shot in the arm for this club.
12. Nipawin Hawks (7-24-5) (Last week 10th)
The young Hawks kept veteran defenceman Vito Biondo at the deadline, and he will be relied upon to show the way for this group with the likes of captain Finley Radloff. Two losses in Kindersley are nothing to be ashamed of; the Klippers are as hot as anyone right now, and this team continues to play a brand that is a thorn in the side of anybody in the SJHL under the firm tutelage of Tad Kozun.