The Humboldt Broncos are the host team for the 2012 Royal Bank Cup. Many wondered at the start of the season what Dean Brockman’s game plan for the upcoming season would be. Would he trade some of his better players like Andrew Bodnarchuk and Justin Buzzeo to get some young talent that he could use for next year, or would he take a run at the SJHL title this year. The answer may be the latter.
The season is still young, but the Broncos have shown they are more than ready to compete for the Credit Union Cup this year by winning their first four games of the season. They are the lone unbeaten team in the league after two weeks which once again shows the tremendous parity the SJHL has this season.
Hot on the heels of the Broncos are the Melfort Mustangs. They won all three of their games this week thanks to the play of goalie Charles Corsi. Corsi had been playing US college hockey at Dartmouth but decided to return to the ranks of Junior A because he was upset with the amount of playing time he was getting. Head coach Darrell Mann made a deal with Quesnel of the B.C. Hockey League to get Corsi’s rights and so far it has proven to be an outstanding move.
In the Sherwood Division, the Estevan Bruins were expected to be at or near the top of the division ladder and they are on top with a 3-1 record, but they have some company on that top rung in the Yorkton Terriers. Big home wins over Nipawin and Kindersley leave Yorkton tied for first with the Bruins. The two teams will meet in Yorkton this Friday in what will be a big early-season game for both.
Speaking of the Bruins, one of their players revealed this week that an SJHL cancer awareness campaign made him realize he should visit a doctor. Kyle Johnson found a lump on his scrotum. He says he feels fortunate that he was educated by last season’s campaign to raise awareness for testicular cancer and how if affects young men his age. As part of the campaign, a video was produced in which SJHL players were quizzed on their knowledge about the disease. While he still has some follow-ups, he has been given a clean bill of health. His battle may be behind him, but he is urging men his age to be aware of such a thing saying it can happen to anyone at any age.
Eight SJHL players were hoping to impress Hockey Canada brass at the World Junior A Canada West selection camp this past weekend in Penticton, B.C. The eight were part of 41 players who tried to impress the coaching staff including Kindersley’s Larry Wintoneak.
The league has issued one of its lengthiest suspensions in recent memory. La Ronge Ice Wolves forward Justin Ducharme has been handed a 16 game suspension after an incident in La Ronge earlier this month in which Kindersley forward Andrew Dommett suffered head injuries after what is being called a “late, blind side hit”. Ducharme won’t play again until November 19.
Two SJHL teams are in the Canadian Junior Hockey League’s Top 20. The Humboldt Broncos move from number 17 to number 8 in the country while the Flin Flon Bombers fall from number 4 to number 11.
SHERWOOD PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Regan Nabseth-Melfort Mustangs – The 20 year old forward from Leroy, SK was one of three Mustangs to have a big week offensively. Nabseth had four goals and two assists in three games---all games that the Mustangs won.
SHERWOOD DEFENCEMAN OF THE WEEK
Zach McLellan-Battlefords North Stars – The Stars still haven’t hit the win column this year, but the 18 year old rookie from Coquitlam B.C is making an impression for Ken Pearson’s crew. McLellan had 5 points in 3 games this week.
SHERWOOD GOALTENDER OF THE WEEK
Charles Corsi-Melfort Mustangs – Mustangs coach Darrell Mann made a deal with the Quesnel Millionaires of the BC Junior Hockey League to get the 20 year old from Rosemere, Quebec who left Dartmouth after playing there last season. Corsi won all three of his starts this past week stopping 73 of 83 shots that he faced.
POWER RANKINGS
1.HUMBOLDT BRONCOS - The Broncos are the lone unbeaten team in the league after two weeks. The Broncos have shown that while their eyes are on the 2012 RBC that they host that they haven’t forgotten about trying to be there in 2011.
2.LA RONGE ICE WOLVES – Had it not been for a power failure Saturday night, the Ice Wolves may have had a chance to knock Humboldt off and keep the number one ranking. Travis Eggum, Marc-Andre Carre and Doug Lindensmith are making life difficult for opposition defences.
3.MELFORT MUSTANGS – There may be no better trio in the league right now than Regan Nabseth, Brody Haygarth and Cole Gibson. The addition of Charles Corsi in goal is paying huge dividends early for the Mustangs.
4.ESTEVAN BRUINS – The Bruins have jumped out into a tie with Yorkton for first in the Sherwood Division with very balanced scoring. The off-season trade that brought Ben Findlay and Joel Danyluk to Estevan from La Ronge is already paying off as both have had good starts.
5.FLIN FLON BOMBERS – The Bombers had been flying until getting shut down by Weyburn Saturday night. Mike Reagan’s crew is proving they will be very tough to beat if the first four games of the year are any indication.
6.YORKTON TERRIERS – Clarke Breitkreuz and Robbie Ciolfi were expected to do a majority of the scoring, but rookie Zak Majkowski is showing he might be ready to step into a more prominent role with a couple of impressive performances.
7.KINDERSLEY KLIPPERS – The Klippers can’t wait to get back into their home rink as the West Central Events Centre is ready to be used again after last year’s tragic fire. Kindersley started 2-2 on the road and don’t seem to be missing captain Andrew Dommett as much as some people thought they would.
8.BATTLEFORDS STARS – If excitement level had a bigger role in these rankings, the Stars would top the list. They have lost a game in overtime and lost a shootout game this year. Once Ken Pearson’s crew starts putting a 60 minute effort together, they are going to be tough.
9.NOTRE DAME HOUNDS – The Hounds are having a tough time getting the offence going, but they have been strong defensively. If the goals come and the defence keeps playing the way it has started the season, the Hounds will start moving up the rankings.
10.WEYBURN RED WINGS – While a lot of goals have been scored early on in the SJHL season, the Wings aren’t. They are averaging less than 3 a game and Dwight McMillan knows that won’t cut it. He has to be pleased with the first SJHL start by rookie goalie Lucas Feibel as it was a shutout.
11.MELVILLE MILLIONAIRES – Head coach Jamie Fiesel had said he was upset with the play of his veterans. Captain Brayden Metz didn’t disappoint with a 5 point evening against Nipawin. That performance could spur the other veterans to get their game going.
12. NIPAWIN HAWKS – Doug Johnson has his first point as an SJHL coach, but he is still looking for his first win.
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