NEUGSIE’S AROUND THE RINKS

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

WE’RE IN: WE ARE GOING TO QATAR! The Canadian Men’s National Soccer Team absolutely thumped Jamaica Sunday to book their ticket to the World Cup, and it was such big news that even the legend himself Rob Vanstone wrote about it! Amazing. Even if you don’t like soccer or care about it, this news means our country is going to participate in the most important sporting event on the planet – so at the very least I expect you all to say, either out loud or in your head: “that’s pretty cool!”. It’s a likeable group, and they will represent us well.
What Next: The draw to determine Canada’s group at the tournament goes Friday at 10 A.M. Saskatchewan Time, and the World Cup itself starts Nov. 21 in Doha, Qatar. It’s really up in the air whom our guys will face, but I’ll let you know next week! As the host team, Qatar is slotted in the draw with the top countries on earth, so it sure would be sweet to draw them! Either way, I was there on Sunday for Canada’s win, and IT WAS ABSOLUTELY BONKERS. What a time.
Hounds Bow Out: To hockey and the Notre Dame Hounds were beaten in five by the Estevan Bruins in Round 1, and while most predicted ND would fall, I’m not sure many felt they’d put up the fight that they did…for the most part. Games 3 and 5 were not contests, but an overtime win for the Hounds in Game 1, and an OTL at home in Game 4 were absolutely epic, and the guys played some great hockey. Both teams went at it, but the better team won…it has to be said. I’ll never forget Sam Kroon’s winner in Game 1 with about five minutes left in double OT…it’s a great memory that will stick with me forever.
Tremblay And Birnie!: Excited to see Flin Flon Bomber Jeremi Tremblay and long-time Weyburn Red Wing-turned-Steinbach Piston Braden Birnie commit to D1 programs this past week! Tremblay, whom I hear might return for Round 2 vs. either Estevan or Humboldt, committed to Sacred Heart, and has dealt with some pretty serious health issues – so super awesome to hear that he’s coming back! Birnie, who was a beast for his local Weyburn team for years, was very graciously allowed to make a great run at an excellent program in Steinbach at the trade deadline this year and has taken full advantage, playing really well, and earning his commitment to the University of Alaska at Fairbanks. Rory and I on SJ at Noon at the beginning of the year talked about how we expected a ton of commits out of the league this year, and so far, it’s coming true!
SaskU18s: The Regina Pat Cs and Warman Wildcats have a 1-0 Best of Five series lead on Notre Dame and the Saskatoon Blazers, respectively, but I really think both those series are going deep. Cs coach Darrin McKechnie does an incredible job, and his team is gritty with the best goaltender in the league in the future Pat Kelton Pyne, while Del Pedrick’s Hounds are supremely skilled. I have no idea who is going to come out on top, even though it’s the 1-4 with ND at one.
ICE Dominance: Man, what a year for the Winnipeg ICE. So talented, so deep, I still don’t love their goaltending, which is what gives the Edmonton Oil Kings the edge over them (and maybe others too), if you ask me. Portland’s goaltending with Taylor Gauthier and Dante Giannuzzi is absolutely the best in the ‘Dub’, but nobody will enjoy facing the ICE. Only Matt Savoie is in the WHL Top 10 in scoring on the club, which is good because it means they are getting it from everywhere; which is a true recipe for success. So fun to watch, too.
Bedard: 44 goals, 84 points in 53 games, without truly elite support, and Rod Pedersen is already wondering if Connor Bedard is the best Pat ever. Is he serious? Is it clickbait? Both? Nobody has produced like THIS, nobody is as compelling at this young of an age as THIS! So, I don’t blame Rodney. I don’t know, because I haven’t been around long enough, but boy is it impressive. The great Edmonton Oil King Dylan Guenther is three points behind him and he plays on a line with NHL-ready Justin Sourdif and is on probably the best junior team in Canada. More from captain obvious: Connor Bedard is physically and mentally amazing.
Team Sask Aboriginal: Team Saskatchewan’s roster for the upcoming 2022 National Aboriginal Hockey Championships in mid-May in Nova Scotia, and seven SJHLers were picked for the 2004-born and younger squad. Weyburn Red Wings’ rookie Ty Mason, Melfort’s Zac Somers, Melville’s Carter McKay, and Warman AAA star Mason Bueckert are the four best players for me, but it’s a really good team and I expect they’ll make noise! If Melfort isn’t heading to the national championships, the additions of Somers and goaltender James Venne could be enormous! Very interested to keep an eye on this. Check out the roster here: https://twitter.com/AAAStarsHockey/status/1507102425802424343/photo/1
Habs Fans: Yeah, so the Leafs can lose to anyone, and can beat anyone…this is not news. But the Habs fans treat a win over Toronto this year like it’s their cup, and it’s cute. Keep ruining your draft pick, and get those golf clubs ready, Montreal *wink*. I know, I know, Toronto isn’t winning anything either this year…I’ve written about it a lot.
To Be Honest: I am so proud of the Hounds boys for making the playoffs, with the Covid that hit them worse than anyone in the SJ, with a lot of individual adversity in the squad too, and what an incredible, amazing group of human beings to spend the year with. Going to miss them for sure. That all being said, I cannot wait to call the finals, and might be doing a thing or two at the National Championship…so stay tuned! SO. MUCH. FUN.