NEUGSIE’S AROUND THE SJHL

By: Jamie Neugebauer
Voice of the ND Hounds

1. Covid trouble in Melfort?: As if the Mustangs didn’t have a hard-enough couple of weeks, what with the passing of Dylan Ashe, then news came out from the league itself that a Melfort player has tested positive for Covid. Of course, I hope first and foremost that the young man is okay, but I also hope nothing more comes of this as I hear a number of people within the Melfort organization are in isolation. It would be crazy to imagine an SJHL season (or any league in the world in any sport, for that matter) going forward with NOBODY contracting Covid, so I don’t think this means that much, and nobody needs to panic.
2. Hope they can go: One huge thing I’m hoping for is that a good number of Mustangs can attend the memorial service for Ashe, which I hear is this week coming up. I am not sure what the Mustangs’ exact protocol is in this unique situation, but I can’t imagine how those young men and staff are feeling right now. What a double whammy of uncertainty and sorrow!
3. Humboldt continues to build: Humboldt have added another potentially serious weapon, as Stephane Huard has been picked up from the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada of the QMJHL. A big-time scorer in Quebec at College Esther-Blondin, he had a decent rookie year in junior a year ago. In the days of yore, people would’ve looked at a smallish 18-year-old as a Top 6 in the SJ and thought “he’ll never make it!”; but those days are pretty much over. Scott Barney has especially done a great job picking speed and tenacity over size and belligerence (not that his teams haven’t been gritty, because they have), so if you think about Huard joining the likes of Tristan Shewchuk and Logan Kurki, it looks like a fit.
4. And when I asked Barney about how he got the player from the Q: He said: “We talked to a couple of contacts, then to Stephane’s advisor, and the player wanted to come and develop, and to get to the next level.” Simple as that. With Top 6 veterans like Luke Spadafora, Austen Flaman, and Chase Nameth around, it looks like a great situation for Huard to just be himself, without a lot of pressure. Good players want to play with good players, and there aren’t nearly as many secrets in this day and age as there used to be.
5. Estevan’s 03 situation: I wrote last week concerning the surprise from the Maritimes concerning the releases of Nova Scotian U18 stars Mason Beck and Samuel Gallant. Well, the answer to the question of who beat them out was made a little clearer by a Bruins club that is right on top of professionally disseminating roster information (something a report like myself really appreciates). I already mentioned Caelan Fitzpatrick’s arrival as one of those excellent 03s, but dual citizen Keagon Little, who had been acquired from Humboldt back in June, has also been announced as one who made the cut. Little was part of a very good Tisdale Trojans U18 team a year ago, and maybe after Flin Flon, it’s hard to imagine a club in the SJHL that brought in fresh, quality talent more than the Bruins did. I am also hearing wonderful things about Winnipeg minor hockey star Brandon Ambrozik, but I know none of us can wait to actually see these kids in meaningful games, and form our own opinions.
6. Recent SJHLers hit the ice in Manitoba: Speaking of real games, the Manitoba league is off and running with its pre-season, and a number of recent SJHLers were involved. Three-year Notre Dame Hound Jayce Nikbakht was assessed all three of Swan Valley’s minor penalties in its Friday night loss to OCN, while ex-Weyburn forward Bryce Krauter found the back of the net for his Neepawa Natives in their 4-3 shootout defeat to fellow former Red Wing Riley Little and the Waway Wolverines. Finally, a pair of ex-Melfort Mustangs in Braeden Young and Parker Fofonoff made their pre-season debuts for an absolutely stacked Dauphin Kings team (and folks, they are scary stacked). There were other Saskatchewan minor hockey connections involved too, but you can check those out for yourself!
7. Recent SJHLers hit the ice in BC: The pre-season, cohort-based ‘Cups’ started out in B.C. as well over the weekend, as clubs kicked off little tournaments against only relatively local competition. Three Notre Dame Junior A Hounds alumnus featured, with Riley Kohonick having a forgettable four-and-a-half periods over two games in the Salmon Arm Silverbacks net, albeit on the road against an early National Championship contending Penticton Vees club. Forward Jarrett Penner and defender Hardy Wagner had slightly less eventful appearances for West Kelowna and Victoria, respectively. Much brighter days ahead for all three, I say! Regina boy and one-time Humboldt Broncos ‘AP’ Ayden Third also got a game for Vernon against Penner’s Warriors.
8. A Mil in Aberdeen: More departure confirmation news came out of Aberdeen in the NAHL where it is expected that former La Ronge Ice Wolves and Melville Millionaires defenceman Dylan Thackeray will make the Red Wings. Thackeray was productive last year with 24 points from the blue line, and has shown plenty of flashes, so we’ll see if he sticks in a class organization like Aberdeen.
9. Klips dynamic duo Klips no more: In an even more impactful turn of events, it appears that Kindersley’s big-time dynamic duo of Liam Fraser and Scott McKenzie have also both been lost to the North American League. Fraser is apparently destined for Aberdeen’s opening-day roster, while McKenzie figures to be a fixture for Fairbanks in Alaska. That’s 91 combined points from a year ago out of a Klippers squad that struggled for offensive depth as it was. New bench boss Ken Plaquin has some work to do to refill that cupboard, folks!
10. Who’s your favourite…?: I don’t mean this in a self-aggrandizing way at all, but I was just wondering who your favourite SJHL play-by-play guy is? Leave your answer in the comments below! This league has so many good ones, so there isn’t a wrong answer, and in fact there isn’t a guy I dislike listening to. I am, as you may know, the broadcaster for the Notre Dame Hounds, but you don’t have to pick me

 (Follow Jamie on Twitter at @Neugsie)