As we pass Thanksgiving and hit double digits in games, the adage is that we should start to understand what teams are. Parity reigns supreme, however, and this week sees a big shake-up!
A group of SJHL media decides the power rankings.
- Melfort Mustangs (6-2-0) (Last week 2nd)
The defending champs followed up a much-needed overtime win in Melville last Saturday with a hard-fought split in a home-and-home with the Flin Flon Bombers this past weekend. Logan Belton continues to produce atop a very spread-out Mustangs’ attack.
- Yorkton Terriers (6-2-0) (Last week 3rd)
Yorkton keeps scoring goals at a wild rate of 4.6 per game, even though their strength of schedule has been tough so far in October. They beat Nipawin at home on Friday, then fell 6-4 Saturday despite mostly dominating Weyburn in their rink.
- Melville Millionaires (6-2-1) (Last week 1st)
Two defeats out of three games this past week have the Money Men falling just a bit, but a dominant 5-0 win Saturday in La Ronge could be the springboard the club needs to right the ship again. Caden Drury’s brilliant campaign continues.
- Kindersley Klippers (6-3-0) (Last week 7th)
Four out of a possible six points this week after hard-fought home wins against Notre Dame and Estevan, mostly behind rookie goaltender Brett O’Halloran, has the Klippers rocketing up the rankings. Another youngster, Jaxon Herchak, leads all rookies in points as a defenceman at the time of writing.
- Weyburn Red Wings (4-4-0) (Last week 9th)
The Wings have scored six goals or more in four of their five games in October so far, coinciding not coincidentally with the returns of Jerome Maharaj and Jaxson Ruthven. Three dominant wins this last week over Melville, Notre Dame and Yorkton, two of whom are above Weyburn in the standings, have Cody Mapes’ men flying up the rankings fast.
- Flin Flon Bombers (5-4-1) (Last week 5th)
Flin Flon earned a tough split with the Melfort Mustangs, the win coming in front of a rocking Whitney Forum crowd of over 1,000 Friday night. The injury bug looks to have hit the Bombers on Saturday and an always tough Mustangs team on their home ice. Head Coach Mike Reagan keeps calling for calm among this always-passionate fan base.
- Humboldt Broncos (5-3-1) (Last week 4th)
The Broncos gave up 16 goals over three games this past week, one in which they went 1-2 against Estevan and a pair vs. the Battlefords North Stars. The great news is that Jacob Strizzi cannot stop scoring, and Humboldt looked back to its old self during Saturday’s dominant win at home against the Stars.
- Estevan Bruins (3-3-2) (Last week 10th)
Big wins over Humboldt and Kindersley on the road have coincided with some terrific veteran reinforcements in the form of Kyle Kelsey in the net and a pair of big boys on the back end. The Bruins also beat Flin Flon at Affinity Place last Saturday, so all arrows seem to be pointing up for Jason Tatarnic’s men.
- La Ronge Ice Wolves (4-4-1) (Last week 8th)
The Wolves split the weekend with Melville this past weekend, featuring a brilliant 45-save performance from Graham Brown on Friday. The four-point week also included an overtime win in Nipawin last Tuesday. Veteran Hudson Cameron is already well on his way to a career-high campaign upfront.
- Battlefords North Stars (4-3-1) (Last week 6th)
The Stars dropped a heartbreaker to the Notre Dame Hounds Tuesday and took an 8-6 shootout at home against Humboldt Friday. Ukrainian U20 national team alumnus Nikita Ivaschenko has points in all but one game this year and has formed a great partnership with Anthony Campbell in Battlefords’ Top 6 forwards. Saturday’s heavy loss in Humboldt was followed by the announcement that club legend Marty Smith has been named the team’s head coach for the rest of the year. He will work with long-time Battlefords scouting chief Wylie Riendeau, who has been named general manager, and assistant coach Owen Lamb.
- Notre Dame Hounds (2-7-0) (Last week 11th)
Notre Dame got a much-needed, dramatic overtime win in Battlefords – their first win at the ACC since 2021 – on Tuesday and were two minutes away from at least a point the next night in Kindersley. The Hounds were out of gas when they faced the high-flying Wings Friday night in Assiniboia. The top pair of Vinny Palmarin and Liam Hunks continue to prove they are one of the best defence-tandems in the SJHL.
- Nipawin Hawks (1-7-1) (Last week 12th)
Losses this past week to La Ronge and Yorkton were tough, but Tyson Endall and rookie Gabe Roberts continue to play well in net for the league’s youngest crew.
