As the calendar turns to November, the league will pause for the 2024 Western All-Star Showcase, presented by Palliser Insurance.
Let’s see how the teams shakedown ahead of that pause.
A group of SJHL media decides the power rankings.
1. Weyburn Red Wings (11-4-1) (Last week 1st)
Two hard-fought wins in Kindersley this past week and the Wings’ unbeaten run in regulation is now up to 12. It’s also the fourth straight week that a Weyburn goaltender is among the Players of the Weekâgreat times in the opportunity city.
2. Melfort Mustangs (11-3-0) (Last week 2nd)
The defending champs beat Flin Flon at home during an otherwise quiet week for the defending champs. They are more like No. 1B than No. 2.
3. Yorkton Terriers (10-7-0) (Last week 3rd)
You rarely see a team play two neutral-site games on back-to-back days, but the Terriers beat Estevan at Cote First Nation Friday and then took down La Ronge in Churchbridge, SK, at a rink named after the coach of the Ice Wolves. Impressive stuff and the deficit from the forfeitures are now in the rearview mirror.
4. Melville Millionaires (10-5-1) (Last week 4th)
Losses last week at home to La Ronge and in Humboldt mean this is the first real down week for the Moneymen, although they found a way past Nipawin last Tuesday in Luke Brunen’s first career SJHL shutout. The Showcase break comes at a perfect time for Doug Johnson’s men.
5. Humboldt Broncos (9-5-1) (Last week 5th)
The Broncos bounced back from last Tuesday’s loss at home to La Ronge, perhaps utilizing some of that Saturday night magic at the Elgar Petersen Arena, to comfortably cruise by a Melville squad playing a tough back-to-back. Young Brady Holtvogt continues to shine in net; the local boy has three wins from three and a .941 save percentage…not bad at all.
6. Battlefords North Stars (9-4-2) (Last week 7th)
The North Stars still have not lost back-to-back games since the first two of the year, and they had to rally late to prevent a pesky Notre Dame squad from taking all four points at the Access Communications Centre over the weekend. Still, Connor Baumbach is in the net to work alongside Justen Maric, and this team finds ways to grind out results.
7. La Ronge Ice Wolves (8-9-1) (Last week 10th)
It was a massive week for the Wolves, who grabbed three wins out of four in a four-games-in-five-days southern swing. Logan Falk and Graham Brown were brilliant in net, and La Ronge now has eight at home. Look out for the pack.
8. Kindersley Klippers (9-7-0) (Last week 6th)
By all accounts, the Klippers played exceptionally well over the weekend, pouring 88 shots at the Weyburn net over the two games. However, playing well doesn’t get you much, as they lost twice, a rare thing for them at home. Who is beating Weyburn these days, though?
9. Flin Flon Bombers (6-9-1) (Last week 8th)
The Showcase break gives the Bombers some time to catch their breath after they mostly outplayed the Mustangs in Melfort but still lost on Wednesday. Leighton Carruthers, the former No. 3 overall pick in the QMJHL, should provide the Bombers with some serious firepower moving forward, and health has to find this beleaguered crew at some point.
10. Estevan Bruins (4-6-2) (Last week 9th)
The Bruins have not been very busy lately, and a 5-2 loss at Cote First Nation to Yorkton does not help. Estevan’s addition of Kyle Kelsey has been a stroke of genius, though, and their defensive efforts keep getting better, so if they could find a few goals, there will be brighter days ahead in Estevan.
11. Notre Dame Hounds (4-12-1) (Last week 11th)
Four games in five nights stretch turned into three in four after a postponement in Wilcox but all told the Hounds played very well this past week. Could have gotten something from a hard-fought 3-1 loss at the Duncan McNeill Arena vs. La Ronge last Wednesday, and then three of four points from Battlefords over the weekend. Is this a blip or a sign of improvement in the young club? We’ll find out! Spencer Borsos was brilliant in net all three.
12. Nipawin Hawks (2-11-1) (Last week 12th)
The Hawks look to have their solution in net with Nathan Claydon, and though a 3-0 loss at home Melville isn’t ideal, there are definite signs of life there, especially with the additions of Aiden Bruce from Humboldt and Noah Heinrich from Fort MacMurray.
