And just like that, it’s October! All teams have played three or four regular-season games, so it’s still early!
The power rankings are decided by a group of SJHL media.
- Melfort Mustangs (4-0) (Last week 1st)
Melfort earned two hard-fought 2-1 wins this past weekend on a southern swing, and the beat goes on for Trevor Blevins’ men. The defending champs have still only given up six goals in four games, and armed with the league’s best defence-corps and plenty of playoff experience, the Mustangs have not missed a beat.
- Yorkton Terriers (4-0) (Last week 3rd)
The next test of this stacked Yorkton squad came against two undefeated clubs, the Humboldt Broncos and Kindersley Klippers, this past weekend, and Emery Olauson’s men passed with more than flying colours. Big 6-2 and 5-2 wins this past week, one at home and one on the road, clearly show this team truly means business.
- Melville Millionaires (4-0) (Last week 4th)
The Moneymen had another solid weekend, as they tried to win at home Friday and then cruised on the road Saturday, both times against the Notre Dame Hounds. Caden Drury leads the league in points, and the club’s first-line centre has done everything well this season. That Highway 10 rivalry looks as good as it has since the 2010s.
- Flin Flon Bombers (2-1-1) (Last week 6th)
Flin Flon rarely loses in any way at home, but a hard-fought effort against a hot goaltender went the way of the La Ronge Ice Wolves Friday in overtime at the Whitney Forum. However, Mike Reagan’s troops rallied quickly and blew the doors off the Wolves at the Mel Hegland Uniplex the next night.
- Kindersley Klippers (3-1) (Last week 5th)
Kindersley’s dream start to the year looked to continue after a gritty road win last Friday in Nipawin, but perhaps they ran out of steam Saturday when they fell to a tough test in Yorkton. It was the Klippers’ first loss of the season, which has to be considered a success so far, especially given that they’ve played three of four away from home.
- Humboldt Broncos (2-1) (Last week 2nd)
The Broncos hit a wall this past weekend called the Yorkton Terriers, and given that it was their only game of the week, the frustration from the effort out of the Elgar Petersen Arena was palatable. It is early days, and the players are still getting used to Brayden Klimosko, their new bench boss, so there is no reason to be worried after one heavy defeat.
- La Ronge Ice Wolves (2-1-1) (Last week 7th)
With all the new faces in La Ronge, it took work for the pundits to figure out what the Wolves would be; however, whatever that opinion might have been, Kevin Kaminski’s men have exceeded even those expectations. An off-season acquisition of Logan Falk from Kindersley has been a boon in net, and after an overtime win at the Whitney Forum and a split with the Flin Flon Bombers this past weekend, the confidence must be high at the northern club.
- Battlefords North Stars (1-2) (Last week 9th)
The Stars had only one game this weekend, but the debut of Martin Smith on the Battlefords bench could not have gone better. Five third-period goals earned the Black and Silver a 6-1 win over Nipawin, their first campaign victory after two brutal defeats the week before.
- Weyburn Red Wings (0-3) (Last week 10th)
The Red Wings’ journey to finding the chemistry and cohesiveness they expect to come, given the talent available, is still a work in progress, but a hard-fought, gritty 2-1 loss at home to the defending champion Melfort Mustangs has to be considered progress at Crescent Point Place. Serious reinforcements are on the way, too, so stay tuned.
- Estevan Bruins (0-3) (Last week 11th)
Much like with their Highway 39 rivals in Weyburn, a mostly brand new Estevan roster is still a work in progress after a tight 2-1 loss at home in a rematch of the first round of the playoffs from last year vs. Melfort. Spirits must also be high after a terrific third period Friday night despite the loss, and the additions of two veteran defencemen the previous week should also encourage this excellent fan base.
- Nipawin Hawks (0-4) (Last week 8th)
Growing pains were likely expected for the league’s youngest club, but despite the losses, the Hawks have been right in games most nights. A tight home loss to Kindersley was followed by a 6-1 defeat in Battlefords this past weekend, but it is still very early in the campaign.
- Notre Dame Hounds (0-4) (Last week 12th)
Like Nipawin, the Hounds have had plenty of positive passages of time in games, and both of Notre Dame’s opponents, Humboldt and Melville, are as experienced and talented as any in the league. ND took a 2-0 lead Friday in Melville before falling 4-2 at a very difficult CN Community Centre to get a result. The next night in Wilcox was the reverse: a poor start and a better finish. A big boost is coming with Vinny Palmarin returning from the BCHL.
