NEUGSIE’S AROUND THE SJHL
By: Jamie Neugebauer
Voice of the ND Hounds
1. A bomb for the Bombers? The rumour out of Flin Flon is that Tristan Lemyre, he of the commitment to the University of Denver, and the man who would’ve been as much a favourite to dominate this year as Chantz Petruic was a year ago, will be heading to Dubuque in the USHL instead of returning to the Manitoban club, as they had hoped. The Fighting Saints of Dubuque are a first-class organization, so it’s no surprise they were able to lure their 2020 Phase II first rounder away (even though the Bombers are as classy as anyone in the SJ). You would also have to think a school with the power and prestige of Denver would have had a say as well, but who knows what is exactly going to happen, what with state of the world!
2. And another one? The second bomb to go off this past week, not too long after my last column in fact, is that Humboldt’s young star Karter McNarland, who is two years younger than Lemyre, is off to Sioux Falls in the USHL to try make the team. Now Karter is an excellent young talent, and was the only SJHL representative to even get a chance to try out for Team Canada West in the World Junior A Challenge last year, but given the current climate and how tough a league the USHL is, I’ll just say it wouldn’t surprise me one way or the other if he makes it there this year or not. Can’t hurt to try out, I suppose! The Broncos are the deepest team in the SJHL heading into the campaign, so if there was a squad that could sustain such a loss it would be Humboldt. Still, it would be a loss to the whole league if he wasn’t back. The willingness to go to Sioux Falls instead of sitting tight does reinforce to me his focus on going the college route instead of the dub, which SHOULD excite D1 scouts.
3. Some opportunities in Estevan: Similar to Humboldt, Estevan appears to have loads of depth all over the ice; but if I had to pick one club the most stung by Covid’s complications, it would be the Bruins. Regular all-star Isaiah Thomas, expected breakout star Tyler Savage, and the promising behemoth Dain Sardelli, will not be back at Affinity Place anytime soon, as they are all single-passport Americans, and therefore appear to be settling with US-based clubs instead of hoping that non-dual citizens can play up here sooner or later. More opportunity for the prodigious likes of Eddie Gallagher, Griffin Asham-Moroz, and co. That being said…
4. A fight on their hands? The scuttlebutt tells me that some big-time movers and shakers in Canadian Junior A hockey are preparing to arm themselves for a legal fight with Hockey Canada and the Canadian Junior Hockey League in order to allow American kids to play up here. There are some owners and clubs with real money around the country, and people like that tend to get real serious when there is a question surrounding the return on their respective investments. Is this a hill Hockey Canada wants to die on (the hill known as “no Americans can play until the border is opened”)? As I said last week, there are droves of Americans in Canada right now either quarantining or skating, so who knows what will unfold!
5. Kudos to Morty! Speaking of Estevan, I was really pleased to see Tanner Mortenson, a three-year Hound, and a great kid who has had no luck at all with injuries and roster situations over his career, get a training camp spot with the Bruins. There is a real fire in this guy’s heart that all coaches love, and I know he’ll do almost anything coach Jason Tatarnic and staff needs him to if he makes the club. Either way, smart move by the Bruins to bring a kid like that in to really light a fire at camp. Tanner split last year between Merritt in the BCHL, Swan Valley in the MJHL, and Valley in the Maritime League, and I can tell you he is absolutely loved around Wilcox. I told him I hope he does awesome against 10 teams in the SJHL this year.
6. More on that Estevan train: One guy who really stands to gain from the loss of Thomas and Savage is the Manitoban Troy Hamilton. He’s a kid with a great mix of skill and sandpaper, which is absolutely what the great fans in Estevan like in a player. He struggled with injury and a bit of a log-jam of young forwards on the Bruins last year, but I expect him to break out in a big way this season coming up.
7. Are the Bruins going to break the internet? Interesting to see that Cole Fonstad, the fine 2000-born centreman of the Everett Silvertips and a Montreal Canadiens pick, has been skating at Estevan’s camp. Could the Bruins possibly keep the local boy for any part of their season, what with the dub far from a start, and uncertainty around the state of the border extremely fraught? That would be something! The former P.A. Raider has had three-straight 73-plus point campaigns in the WHL.
8. Newfoundland bros land in Notre Dame: I’m excited to see the brother combination of Ethan and Andrew Stuckless on the ice for the Hounds this year coming up. From outside of St. John’s, Newfoundland, the 2000-born Ethan had a very solid two-year career in the maritime league with St. Stephen’s and Fredericton (they are the same organization, as St. Stephen’s moved to Freddy last off-season). Andrew, a 2002-birth year, is described by his Hounds U18 AAA coach Devan Praught as a good honest, 200-foot player who can absolutely fly, and who led his team in plus-minus a year ago. I’ve had great experiences with Newfoundlanders, and the province itself is, in my opinion, the most beautiful part of Canada.
9. Camps Away: I know that (at least) Humboldt, Estevan, Weyburn, and Kindersley have all opened their training camps, which means they’ll have a long, long, long time together before any sort of games, preseason or otherwise, begin. I am not criticizing those clubs’ decision to start so early at all, I would love to see some sort of hockey of any sort myself! We’ve all sat around waiting long enough, right?
10. Have to say: I really appreciate the support from Rod and everyone who read my column last week and gave such positive feedback! Means the world to me.
(Follow Jamie on Twitter at @Neugsie)
