The Western All-Star Showcase in Warman, SK, is in the rearview mirror! Let’s see how the teams shake down after that event.
A group of SJHL media decides the power rankings.
1. Weyburn Red Wings (13-4-1) (Last week 1st)
Two more wins, one at home in the first Highway 39 rivalry clash of the year vs. Estevan, and this juggernaut refuses to slow down. The high-flying Wings are also amid a stretch of seven of eight at home, albeit with some tough match-ups just over the horizon. Still, there is no hotter goaltender tandem in the SJHL right now than Angelo Zol and Dazza Mitchell.
2. Yorkton Terriers (12-7-0) (Last week 3rd)
The Terriers walked into Battlefords and scored a typical 12 goals over a two-game set this past weekend, and both of them won. Every night, it’s a new hero for the Black and White (and some orange) Terriers.
3. Melfort Mustangs (11-4-0) (Last week 2nd)
Melfort’s only action so far in November was against a finally mostly healthy Flin Flon Bombers squad at the Whitney Forum. While they might have lost that one game, there is far too little recent information to comment further.
4. Humboldt Broncos (10-6-1) (Last week 5th)
A win and a loss over the weekend has been indicative of the Broncos’ season so far. Sometimes, they are the best team in the league; sometimes, they are far from that. The best story in Humboldt right now is young local boy Brady Holtvogt in net: everything the kid touches has turned to gold since his return from the Western Hockey League.
5. Melville Millionaires (10-7-2) (Last week 4th)
The Moneymen have been the busiest team in the league since the Western All-Star Showcase. While they have not been poor by any stretch, three one-goal losses have put the Mils on an uncharacteristic losing streak. This team is too talented for the funk to last long, but the next four games are against some of the best teams in the SJHL.
6. Kindersley Klippers (10-7-0) (Last week 8th)
Kindersley is amid a nine-game home stand and 12 of 13 in a row at the Inter Pipeline Arena. The Klips picked up a much-needed 4-2 win Sunday, the lead-leading 10th goalie victory of the campaign for Brett O’Halloran, who just turned 18 on Monday.
7. Flin Flon Bombers (8-9-1) (Last week 9th)
The Bombers have had over a week off since the end of October, and the time to rest and heal has paid off significantly. Since the end of the Showcase, two wins, including at home against the Melfort Mustangs, have resulted, and 11 goals have been scored. Prepare for Flin Flon to return to their usual dominating selves very soon.
8. Battlefords North Stars (9-5-3) (Last week 6th)
A four-game home stand at the Access Communications Centre yielded only one win, but by many accounts, the two losses this past weekend vs. Yorkton could have gone either way. This group has answered the adversity bell numerous times this year so that they could answer it again now.
9. Estevan Bruins (5-7-2) (Last week 10th)
This Bruins team is hunting for consistency, especially with putting the puck in the net, but a five-spot and a win at home against Melville this weekend should help. Jason Tatarnic’s men made Weyburn’s Dazza Mitchell earn his shutout with a good third period Saturday at the CPP.
10. La Ronge Ice Wolves (9-10-1) (Last week 7th)
A two-game home split with the Notre Dame Hounds could have easily been two wins either way, and Coach Kaminski and company will be looking to replicate the good performances they had to end October and start November.
11. Notre Dame Hounds (5-13-1) (Last week 11th)
The biggest element of Notre Dame’s new-found competitiveness is that Spencer Borsos has been as elite as any goaltender in the league over a six-game span. ND’s youngsters followed up a hard-fought split in Battlefords before the Showcase break with a hard-fought split in La Ronge and have an intriguing three-in-a-row series at home to Kindersley coming up next week.
12. Nipawin Hawks (2-12-1) (Last week 12th)
Nipawin has hardly played lately: their schedule has one game between Oct. 29 and Nov. 15. That one contest was a home loss to the Flin Flon Bombers Saturday, but should give Coach Tad Kozun plenty of time to drill his young group. They also keep tinkering with the line-up. They have recently brought in talented young forward Aiden Bruce from Humboldt and experienced defender Noah Heinrich from the Alberta Junior Hockey League.
