The SJHL This Week

SJHL games can be cancelled for various reasons. Severe winter weather, bus problems, rink problems, etc. etc. Add illness to that list now. A game this past Tuesday between the Melville Millionaires and Weyburn Red Wings had to be called off because the Millionaires couldn’t ice a competitive lineup. The reason for that was several players came down with a severe case of the flu. Coach Jamie Fiesel says he came to the rink Tuesday for a pre-game skate and found out he only had 11 guys that could go. When it was discovered that one of the players had mononucleosis, it was thought that those who were sick get completely checked out so that the situation didn’t escalate into anything worse.
The Flin Flon Bombers and Battlefords Stars are doing their best to get back into the Bauer Conference race. Both teams were 3-1 this week with Flin Flon winning all three of their games on the road. Those results combined with Humboldt going 1-2, La Ronge 1-1, and Melfort 0-2 have tightened up the division somewhat.
In the Sherwood Conference, the Yorkton Terriers continue to lead the way even though they won just once in three tries this past week. The Terriers hold a five point lead over Estevan who also posted just one win in three tries this week. After that, its wide open with just five points separating 3rd place Kindersley from last place Notre Dame. It means that as is usually the case that inter-conference games are huge contests.
It’s a big week for the SJHL this week. The league honors its Class of 2010 with Hall of Fame ceremonies this weekend in Humboldt. The inductees will formally be recognized with a banner presentation Friday night before the Broncos game against the Melfort Mustangs. They will be formally inducted Saturday at a banquet. Keep coming to www.sjhl.ca for bios of this year’s inductees and footage of this year’s ceremonies.

SHER-WOOD PLAYER OF THE WEEK – Keith Grondin (Battlefords)
Grondin is one of many talented forwards on a Battlefords team that is starting to get its wheels underneath them after spinning for the first third of the season. The 1990 born forward from Winnipeg had four goals and two assists in four games this week---three in which the Stars were winners.

SHER-WOOD DEFENCEMAN OF THE WEEK – Brant Remenda (Nipawin)
The Hawks haven’t many good weeks this season, but they had one this week beating two of the top teams in the league. One of the reasons for that was the fine play of the 1990 born defenceman from Nipawin. He didn’t get his name on the scoresheet that much, but he did help neutralize some talented Yorkton and Melfort forwards.

SHER-WOOD GOALTENDER OF THE WEEK - P.J Musico (Flin Flon)
The 1990 born puckstopper from Orange, California had a busy week going 3-1. Those three wins came on successive nights against Humboldt, La Ronge and the Battlefords. In the victories over the Broncos and Ice Wolves, Musico stopped 48 shots on both nights. In all this week, he faced 171 shots—an average of well over 40 a game.



POWER RANKINGS

1. La Ronge Ice Wolves – The defending champs got a little better this week with the addition of defenceman Robert Monfore. Having someone with championship experience returning to the lineup doesn’t hurt Bob Beatty’s club at all.
2. Yorkton Terriers – The Terriers may only have won one of three games this week, but they are still the class of the Sherwood Conference for now.
3. Estevan Bruins – Like the Terriers, the Bruins only won one of three games this week. The team has entered the toughest part of its schedule so it will be interesting to see if they rise or fall in the rankings over the next couple of weeks
4. Humboldt Broncos – After having a mini-slump, Justin Buzzeo and Jeremy Boyer seem to have gotten their game back. That spells trouble for the other 11 teams.
5. Melfort Mustangs – Not much is separating the Ice Wolves, Broncos and Mustangs right now. A good week from Darrell Mann’s crew and they will move up.
6. Flin Flon Bombers – Mike Reagan’s crew got bombed 10-2 by La Ronge at home and then proceeded to rattle off three straight wins. Perhaps that lopsided score served as a wake-up call for this team who still has work to do to catch the top three teams in the Bauer.
7. Battlefords Stars – Last week it was suggested many in the league are wondering when this team will start playing up to its capability. The answer may be now.
8. Kindersley Klippers – Will this team start to rise up the rankings now that captain Andrew Dommett is back in the lineup?
9. Melville Millionaires – The departure of Kyle Jahraus means the goaltending is now in the hands of Zach Rakochy. Can the 17 year old run with the job or do the Millionaires need some more experience between the pipes?
10. Weyburn Red Wings – The Red Wings have been up and down all season. Right now, they are on a down, but it won’t be much longer till that changes if this season is any indication.
11. Notre Dame Hounds – The Hounds are playing better hockey of late. They are involved in one of many interesting races that the SJHL is seeing before December 1.
12. Nipawin Hawks – The Hawks still come in last in this week’s power rankings, but more weeks like last one and they will get out of the cellar.