NEUGSIE’S AROUND THE SJHL
By: Jamie Neugebauer
Voice of the ND Hounds
1. Off We Go! – The 2019-2020 Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League season is off with a bang as every team has played at least one game, and all but Weyburn (by the time this is published) have hit the ice twice. It’s going to be a wild, tight season all year, so I cannot recommend getting out to an SJHL rink near you enough.
2. The Hit – The opening weekend was full of drama, with no hotter talking point than Yorkton forward Greg Mulhall’s crushing hit on Melville net minder Berk Berkeliev. The 18-year-old Berkeliev went to hospital with a concussion, two chipped teeth, and the need for eight stitches in his lip and a sealed wound in his head. Find SJHL Reporters on YouTube for the video of the hit yourself, if you’d like, but I must warn you: it is hard to watch. Mulhall got 25 games as a suspension, by the approximation of most, the longest such levied by the league ever, and it’ll be interesting to see what Terriers’ head coach and GM Matt Hehr does in mid-November whenever Mulhall is cleared to return. Who knows how long it’ll take Berkeliev to recover, but of course everyone around the league wishes him the best.
3. Koho Magic – I talked about Notre Dame’s 2000-born goaltender Riley Kohonick plenty last year, but nothing could have prepared even me for the show Koho put on over the Hounds’ two home-and-home victories over the Humboldt Broncos. I have to be honest with you all: I was concerned that Riley had not played a second in the pre-season, but he put those concerns to bed, and then a whole lot more. The former Telus Cup-champion stopped 88 of 90 shots over the two nights, and though he obviously needed the five goals his team gave him, plus the two nifty shootout finishes in Saturday evening’s ND home opener, it isn’t a stretch to say that he put the team on his back this past weekend. Simply put, he was amazing, and should have easily been the goalie of the week, if not the player of the week in the league as well, but…
4. Goalie of the Week? – But my SJHL broadcaster brethren decided to go strictly by stats and vote Nipawin started Ethan Slobodzian the goalie of the week after two shutouts against the Melfort Mustangs. Slobodzian only had to make 51 saves to Kohonick’s 88, and there was not a ton of life to the Mustangs over the two games, but they are entitled to their incorrect opinions. Donovan Houle-Villeneuve, who I have been a fan of for two years now, was voted player of the week after five goals in two Flin Flon thrashings of La Ronge, so fair enough, that’s a lot of goals, but still, Koho…
5. Dub Returnees – The WHL season is just about to begin as well, which means guys are getting cut there, and occasionally are being sent back to the SJ. Josh Paulhus was one of the last cuts for the Regina Pats, and played for Humboldt in the game in Wilcox vs ND, while Pats prospect goaltender Matt Pesenti has been assigned to Kindersley to likely share time with incumbent Zach Johnson (who struggled big-time against Battlefords, more on that later). Two intriguing veterans were also sent packing and have yet to report, as Notre Dame listee and super-skillful ‘99 forward Alec Zawatsky was released by Kamloops, and Regina-native Christian Reimer, the son of University of Regina Dean of Kinesiology Harold and a solid defenceman, whose rights are owned by Melfort, was let go by Swift Current. Those two would be very impactful wherever they land.
6. A Black Mark For Melfort – I mentioned Melfort was beaten twice without scoring a goal on the opening weekend by their hated rivals from Nipawin, but as a team I still think Trevor Blevins’ mob will be fine. What isn’t fine, if the reports are accurate, is the alleged slur that got forward Kyle Schneider a three-game suspension. The type of language that’s thrown around almost all the time at rinks is not okay, but it is interesting when once in a while someone really gets caught for it. These things, and the sensitivity around them, are miles ahead of where it used to be, it has to be said. I know I’m not being very specific here, but you can put two and two together.
7. The Champs Don’t Miss A Beat – It wasn’t a surprise to me (and it shouldn’t have been to anyone) that Brayden Klimosko’s Battlefords North Stars came out this past weekend like a house on fire, but I didn’t expect them to lay the kind of licking they did on their rivals in Kindersley. The defending champs put up 14 goals over the two games, with perhaps the most frightening stat being that they got them from 11 different scorers. Austin Becker, who showed all sorts of promise and skill a season ago, scored 10 goals in 2019-2020 if you include the regular season, playoffs and Anavet Cup, already has three after two contests. It should be a fun year up in the northwest! Just like with Melfort, I think Kindersley will be just fine with the squad they have.
8. Showcase Already! – It’s amazing how fast the Showcase in Warman pops up at the start of a season, but I can’t wait! Every team in the league will play two games between Sunday and Wednesday in Warman’s Legends Arena, with all sorts of tasty matchups. The two that hold very particular interest to me is Monday afternoon’s potential battle of unbeatens between the Nipawin Hawks and Notre Dame Hounds, and a colossal clash of talent-laden titans Tuesday at 1 P.M. between Battlefords and Flin Flon. Check out the full schedule on the league website, I expect it’ll be a blast from start to finish!
9. Skip’s A Beauty – Have to send a shout out to Humboldt Broncos trainer Skip Deeg, who was so kind, attentive and professional in helping the Notre Dame Hounds boys out over the weekend. He had his own team to deal with, but when the Hounds needed help, he was there just as much, and is great to chat with as well. The Broncos have a great one there.
10. Wheat Bowl Ugly For Rams (Bonus) – I have to end with a note on the domination that was the University of Regina Rams 44-9 loss to the University of Saskatchewan Huskies Friday night in USports football action. The UofS offensive line looks full of future CFLers, they are a pack of monsters, and they proved their talent by dominating the usually quite competent Regina Front 7 all night long. Regina’s excellent secondary did their absolute college best, but Saskatchewan QBs Mason Nyhus and Ethan Watson had all day in the pocket, while the Huskie runners gashed Regina time after time. Yes, Nyhus took a licking on a couple plays, and got knocked out with a clear concussion, but the fact that Watson barely missed a beat when he came in has just as much to do with the O-Line dominance as anything. Rod and I were also chatting Saturday night in the booth in Wilcox, and we both agree: Regina second-year QB Josh Donnelly is going to be a stud. Hang in there Josh, better days ahead! The 1-2 Rams have to go to Calgary of all places Friday night, and are facing 1-3 square in the face, while the Huskies have a date with the resurgent Alberta Golden Bears in Edmonton.
(Follow Jamie on Twitter at @Neugsie)
