NEUGIE’S AROUND THE SJHL

By: Jamie Neugebauer
Voice of the ND Hounds

1. Fun Showcase! – Last week’s Regina SJHL / MJHL Showcase was a blast, with great tempo to the games, and even some tempers flaring between the all-star squads from the two leagues. It was interesting to see that the veterans teams kept it tight, keeping it simple and seeking to play within whatever quick system their coaches put forward. At the same time, the young guns teams made all sorts of turnovers all over the ice, and as a result there were far more scoring chances than in the veteran games. Boy do the Manitobans have some slick young forwards though, with the likes of Winkler’s Jayden McCarthy, Steinbach’s Carter Loney, and Winnipeg’s Mikol Sartor and Brayden Foreman specifically catching my eye. Really enjoyed doing the in-arena announcing!

2.What Did We Learn? – Nothing, other than there is a ton of skill in the prairies! I honestly don’t think you can say either league is better than the other, with the Manitoba leaguers taking four of six this past week. Yes, there is still more parity in Saskatchewan, with any team truly owning the ability to beat anyone else on a given night; but a smart college scout should realize that you can get great players in either circuit.

3. Dauphin is in WHICH Place in the MJHL standings?? – For me the best line at the event was the veteran Dauphin Kings line of Grady Hobbs, Nakodan Greyeyes (even though he’s a 2001), and long-time WHL veteran Baron Thompson. They showed some great chemistry snapping it around, and Hobbs could have been the player of the game twice (he was once, though). With all those weapons (their Top 7 scorers were all at the event, in fact), one wonders how they aren’t higher than seventh (yes, 7^th!) in the Manitoba League! They have given up the eighth most goals in the MJ so far, so I guess they weren’t keeping it out; they must be hoping that bringing in Levi Mitchell from Selkirk will do the trick, but still…so many weapons.

4. Congrats to Bomber Lemyre! – Speaking of the Showcase, Flin Flon’s 2001-born forward Tristan Lemyre was impressive. He notched two goals, and two assists, and skated by the Manitoba leaguers like McDavid does in the show! Boy, is this kid fast. He has parlayed his solid rookie campaign (he leads the league in rookie goals and points), and that showcase, into a recently announced commitment to the University of Denver, a great program, with the only question being when he’s slated to head south. Some say it’s next year, to which I say he has some pounds to put on first, but I honestly believe he’ll be able to skate as well as anyone down there too when he takes the step up. Great feather in the cap of the Bombers organization! Does Lemyre have great players to play with? Yes, he does, but that’s how it should be. Good for him for taking advantage.

5. REMOVED

6. How Set is the Playoff Field? – That all being said, I don’t really believe the Broncos are in much danger of missing the playoffs, presently sitting in seventh, and only one club currently out of it needing to do something more than the absolutely remarkable to sneak into the post-season. Hopefully for Humboldt fans, Spadafora can recover faster than some fear. That all being said it would be a surprise to me (in one obvious case, a happy one) if the playoff field isn’t already set, with Kindersley, Weyburn, Notre Dame, and Melville on the outside looking in. Another fun point: only six points separate fourth and eighth place – for all we know something crazy could happen, like for example, Estevan grabbing a home-ice advantage spot? That would be crazy, but it could happen!

7. Seventh or Eighth? – So much chatter, which for teams themselves is dangerous, but for goofball media types like myself not-so-much, about whether anyone would even prefer to finish seventh over eighth. That’s because by far the most likely occurrence is that Battlefords will finish first, and the supremely talented Flin Flon Bombers will end up second. Now, there is a perception that Battlefords are more beatable in a seven-game series, but while I have to agree that the Stars don’t have the same calibre of overall talent as Flin Flon, they are battle-tested with championship pedigree, possessing of the league’s best defence-corps, and while both added a BCHL goalie at the trade deadline, early returns suggest that Kristian Lyon of NB is looking far better than Cal Schell of FF. I actually wouldn’t be on either losing in Round 1, to be honest, but this is junior hockey so anything can happen!

8. Showcase Injuries – Tough blow for the La Ronge Ice Wolves losing talented young forward Aaron Greyeyes to what I hear is a pretty severe collar bone injury at the Showcase. I’m not sure what happened to Steven Kesslering of Battlefords, but he appears to have picked up a knock at the event too! Sucks to get bit by the injury bug at any time, but especially when it doesn’t count for anything in the standings.

9. Where Will The Scoring Champ Go? – For Chantz Petruic, it’s a paltry nine-game streak now, with only 26 points, so he ain’t getting tired. I’ve heard he’s being courted by many Canadian Universities, no surprise there, but is also considering some pro offers. I don’t see why he shouldn’t try to get a quick paycheck, give pro a shot just to see what it’s like? If it doesn’t work out, I do believe he can always drop out and use that Major Junior tuition package for whatever it’s worth from his 60-games with the Moose Jaw Warriors. I would personally love to see him at the University of Regina, which I hear is a possibility, simply because I want to keep the opportunity open of seeing him live (the fact they employ me notwithstanding!). Wherever he goes, I hope he has some good advice!

10. How Bout Them Cougs, Again? (bonus) – Speaking of those Cougars, the men’s and women’s UofR clubs both still sit in playoff spots with four games left in the Canada West season. The women will need a lot of luck to climb higher than fourth, and some to stay there too, especially after disappointingly not sweeping the cellar-dwelling Manitoba Bisons at home last weekend. Alberta and Saskatchewan come next in the queue though, so it’s not going to get any easier. Either way, 2020 has to be considered a huge step forward for the Cougars programs so far! 

(Follow Jamie on Twitter at @Neugsie)