REGINA, SK
Sophomore season in Warman full of promise
Year 1 in Warman after the move from Notre Dame had its ups and downs, but the improvement on and off the ice was clear as the campaign went on.
The support of the community and the in-game experience were second to none in the league, and head coach/GM Brett Pilkington will be looking to deliver a winner to a centre that could very soon be a jewel in the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League’s crown.
Life will go on without the club’s first-ever captain and face, Vincent Palmarin, who graduates to the University of Calgary and U Sports. Still, there are plenty of reasons to believe, with all the returnees up front and skill on the back end, that this team that played hard every night but had trouble scoring goals will improve greatly in that area.
Now-veterans like Carter Bergen, his childhood pal Trey Markus up front, and Ethan Dundas, fresh off an excellent showing at Regina Pats training camp, will look to lead that line. At the same time, Benett Leibel, the newly acquired shifty Ben Morton, and the hulking Linden Hoskins will anchor the blue line.
Perhaps an 11th-place finish a year ago deserved a mulligan for a franchise finding its footing after a move, but one would have to think the pressure will well and truly be on for results in the 2026-27 campaign.
Let’s take a look at some key numbers from Warman’s first season in the league:
Pilkington looks to retain a far greater chunk of his roster than he did in his Notre Dame years, and even into last year, and with up to 10 returning forwards, an overhaul in net and the back end, there is much reason to expect a different narrative this time around for the league’s newest club. A new man to watch for might be an old face to Pilkington in winger Ryder Gilroy, who was dynamic as a call-up for the Hounds in their final year, and for the Saskatchewan U-18 finalist Moose Jaw Warriors U18AAA a season ago.
SJHL Co-Director of Media Clark Munroe sat down with Head Coach/GM Brett Pilkington ahead of the 26/27 season and got his thoughts on the upcoming year.
