NEUGSIE’S AROUND THE RINKS

By: Jamie Neugebauer
Voice of the ND Hounds/DUBNetwork MJ Warriors Beat Writer

1. Vax rules!: Was pretty happy to see the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League adopt mandatory vaccination rules for players, staff, and coaches this past week as several leagues have. This is not only because I believe in it, but also because it seems pretty clear to me that the government will be far more lenient on pausing or shutting anything down if it has such a rule; and nobody wants to see any more hockey lost. Agree with the vaccine or not, but the government has that kind of power, and it would be catastrophic in so many ways if the economy and things like hockey lost another year (I would also lose my mind).
2. Hot start for Young: We actually had real SJHL pre-season hockey this past weekend, as about half the league has played at least a game at this point. The biggest story from the weekend’s games was probably the performance of Weyburn’s 20-year-old goaltender Joe Young as he and his Wings topped a similarly veteran-laden Estevan Bruins squad 5-3 at home. Young, of Regina, looked outstanding when I saw him a bit this summer facing professional shooters, and figures to be close to the top of the league’s elite netminders this year coming up. It was only a pre-season game, but those two organizations cannot stand each other, and a good number of the Bruins’ big off-season acquisitions were in the line-up.
3. Lots of moves in Weyburn: Speaking of moves, new Weyburn boss Cody Mapes has wasted no time in changing the look of his club. Big soon-to-be 20-year-old Major Junior veteran Cayde Augustine will look to help solidify the blue line after a move from Kindersley, while one-time highly-thought-of Kelowna Rockets prospects Hayden Wilm has been acquired from La Ronge, and fellow forward Simon Pollock has been brought in from the Cowichan Valley Capitals of the BCHL. The Hounds play Weyburn twice in pre-season, so I’m pretty interested in what the new-look Wings look like.
4. Familiar Centennial Cup favourites: The pre-season CJHL National Championship favourites have to be the Brooks Bandits of the Alberta Junior League. They have 12 NCAA Division I committed players, and will have more than that by Christmas, and are loaded from top to bottom. Jared Whale in net should be as elite a goaltender as there is in the Canadian Junior A loop, and they should dominate from there on out. Saskatoon’s own Boston Buckberger, committed to Wisconsin, is expected to play a part, while Notre Dame Hound Dom Campione, whose NCAA rights belong to Arizona State will be back as well. They’ll be fun to watch if you’re scrolling HockeyTV!
5. ND Camp underway: Speaking of ND, it’s been a blast to be back at the Duncan McNeill Arena this week for Hounds Junior A camp. Brett Pilkington and Mitch Paradis, and their scouts, have all done a great job bringing in some elite young talent, and though it’s only a couple of days in, I think this group won’t be an easy out for anyone. I know people won’t rate this team very highly pre-season simply because of a lack of familiarity, but it looks like it’ll start the SJHL season as the only group with an NCAA DI committed player (Kev Anderson, Princeton), and a bevy of speed, skill, and tenacity. What an incredible group of young men as well.
6. Humboldt makes another great deal: I have no idea to what degree Covid interrupted things for Scott Barney’s career, but I’ll say it again: enjoy having him around while you can Humboldt Broncos fans. The club’s head coach/GM pulled off another excellent move in acquiring 19-year-old Saskatoon native Alec Saretzky from the Surrey Eagles of the BCHL, and to get another talented somewhat local boy is just another one added to the long list of good business done by Barney over the couple years he’s been around the Elgar Petersen Arena. He got Saretzky, and Connor McGrath from Weyburn, without even having to deal from his position of strength on the back end, where he has all sorts of experience and ability. He’ll keep making moves and he already has the base for this Broncos team to easily be in the top half of the league.
7. Dub pre-season about to go: The Western Hockey League pre-season is set to go this weekend with three games on Friday. Regina hosts Winnipeg at the Co-operators Centre Friday, but will it be a rookie team or one with Connor Bedard? I’d love to know. Either way, I expect the Brandt Centre, where the Pats normally play, to be packed to the rafters to see the 16-year-old superstar this year. Get your tickets ASAP people!
8. Jays have life?: A sweep of the Oakland A’s and a Game 1 win over the New York Yankees have the Jays with slightly more than a glimmer of playoff hope, as they sit three games back of the Boston Red Sox in the final playoff spot at time of writing. There are 26 games left in the regular season, so there is time, but not a lot! Winners of eight of the last ten though is a good clip for sure!
9. Get into soccer!: Incredible atmosphere in Toronto last week for the Canada vs Honduras soccer match, and this group of Canadian men’s national team players are extremely likable. The women won gold in Japan, this team could definitely make the World Cup, and there has never been a better time to get into our country’s national teams! If you have any more questions about them, give me a DM! Would love to educate!
10. Great time in Toronto: Had a great time overall the last couple of weeks back home! Saw the Jays lose to the Chicago White Sox, watched two soccer games, and ate some incredible food! Not used to the humidity anymore, but Toronto is still the greatest city on earth. Period.

(Follow Jamie on Twitter at @Neugsie)