NEUGSIE’S AROUND THE SJHL

By: Jamie Neugebauer
Voice of the ND Hounds

• March 19^th?: Premier Scott Moe and Sask Health Chief Dr. Shahab had another of their always-exciting press conferences Tuesday in which they extended the current health order to March 19. So, what does this mean for the SJHL? Not a lot. I have been saying for a while that the only way there will be more of the 20-21 season is if there were a couple of bubble/showcase/hub-type events over the course of maybe three weeks, and the only thing that this extension does is put the all-but final nail in the coffin of a travel schedule. It wouldn’t surprise me if the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League, and other leagues around the province, came out with that final nail before I write my next column. I think it’s far too premature to start worrying about the fall and the 21-22 season. Tuesday’s news has enough worries of its own! Also, the Manitoba Junior Hockey League buried its cancellation announcement around the same time as the Dub Hub and I believe Manitoba is doing even better with the pandemic than we are so…
• Will we have a bubble? So, will there be any SJ bubbles? I think if the government says the WHL can have the Regina hub (more on that next), then why not? That is, of course, if the Board of Governors can figure out format and protocols, and then pay for it. Then that is the million-dollar (hundred-thousand-dollar?) question: is the Board willing to fish out what I estimate at a minimum $100K-per-team to salvage any hockey before the fall? Do they feel it’s worth it? I don’t really believe any club would be in some sort of jeopardy of folding if they found a way to play, but at the same time, it would surprise me if enough teams were willing to pony up that kind of dough for a three-week March/April event. I hope I’m wrong: for the sake of the kids, and people like trainers, and broadcasters; but it would just surprise me at this point. On the flip side, it is easy to hem and haw when it isn’t your money!
• Dub Hub: In brighter news, the East Division of the WHL Hub (don’t call it a bubble!) is coming, as the five Sask and two Manitoba clubs will converge on Regina with a 24-game schedule starting March 12. Such wonderful news! It is certainly a large expense, and a big task to organize, and I’m sure owners and clubs are going to dig deep and find creative ways to pay for it; but there is the development of current and future NHL prospects at stake, and that’s why I believe this is really happening. It really doesn’t matter WHY though, we have SOME junior hockey coming, and I am thrilled about it. Remember, these are 15-to-20-year-old kids coming to live a severely limited life between the University of Regina dorms and the Brandt Centre for an estimated 65 days, so please please please keep your social media positive for their sake (as well as your own). You have to be fascinated to see Connor Bedard take on Matt Savoie when the Pats battle the Winnipeg Ice! Ah, so many great stories coming!
• Teammates on Boy Wonder: Speaking of Bedard, I spoke to Pats’ vets Ryker Evans and Drew Englot on my podcast this past week (https://bit.ly/3u4wigq if you’re interested), and they had a great answer about their expectations for the exceptional 15-year-old: essentially, he’s a great player, he has to come in here and just play hockey…that’s it. Evans and Englot are both going to be among the flock of Pats taking Bedard, who won’t turn 16 until July, under their respective wings; so I know he’s in great hands. By the way, Bedard was a point-per-game in his short stint in the Swedish U-20 League with HV71 this season.
• The 2000s: From young kids to the overagers, and I definitely continue to feel for the 20-year-olds all over Junior A who don’t have a place to play, and remain uncommitted. That all being said, I have seen numerous social media posts of people complaining about a lack of dialogue surrounding the notion of giving the 2000s another year of eligibility, so let me tell you straight right now: it is not happening. The Canadian Junior Hockey League has no appetite for it, and if it were to happen it would come from them, so as sad and harsh as it sounds, the matter is pretty much at rest. Trust me, this is crushing for me too: I know and care about a ton of those 2000-birth-years, and would celebrate with them if they could have another year, but I’ll say it again, it isn’t a debate, and it isn’t happening. Time to find a way to move on, seek help, get in touch with coaches yourself at the next level if you haven’t already, find out the best way to get a spot for next year. Easier said than done, I know.
• Kudos to Sorensen: Kindersley Klipper Eric Sorensen is one 2000 is sleeping a bit easier after the Grande Praire, AB native committed to play Alberta College hockey for Red Deer College this past week. The face-off ace spent time with his hometown Storm Junior A, as well as in the SJ with Nipawin, before landing at the West Central Events Centre last year. He was off to a great start this season, as were the Klippers in general. Always happy to see a kid find a spot, and more and more quality players are landing in that league.
• Is comparison to America fair?: I’ve seen many point out the fact that numerous junior and college leagues in the States have played all year, in front of thousands of fans, and joked that somehow “the science must be different down there”. Let’s be clear: I think Junior A hockey could have, and still can happen safely amidst the pandemic up here, but I also think it’s important (though not funny at all, but extremely sad) to point out that almost 500,000 people have passed away from Covid in America from their so-called ‘science’. We could be playing, but praising Trump’s America for the way it has dealt with the pandemic is nuts. I’m pretty curious what Biden will do regarding sports until their supposed July date of total vaccination.
• SJ players playing: That being said, I don’t blame the Americans FOR playing Junior, and am happy that numerous kids I know have either found a way to play, or to continue playing for their teams down there. A few SJHLers have found teams in the States, with one example being Flin Flon goaltender Cal Schell, who has played five games in the USPHL with the Atlanta Mad Hatters. I don’t believe those guys playing in certain leagues down there affects their list rights, or roster spots in Hockey Canada sanctioned leagues up here.
• Drafts: I could get into what I think of the SJHL draft in depth, but all I want to say now is that it’s fantastic when picks in that draft land with the teams that take them! I saw Yorkton signed their first rounder from 2019 Kody Norberg, and Melfort committed to their top pick in that draft Connor Hvidston, for example, so great job to Matt Hehr and Trevor Blevins, respectively. Also, I LOVE drafts of any kind! The more the merrier I say!
• Wolves going local: I’ll end with a tip of the cap to La Ronge Head Coach and GM Kevin Kaminski for his initiative to try to find and keep local kids for the club. The best way to connect with the local community in a lot of cases is to have players FROM that community on your team, and with goaltender Alex Bell already in place, the Wolves have committed to locals Cobe Delaney, Parker Layton, and Trever Sanderson. They also nabbed their No. 1 overall pick in the 2018 SJHL Draft Cash Arntsen out of the Swift Current Legionnaires, giving added credence to the point that the most important element of recruiting is having previous success, either by winning or getting commitments, even more so than geography. Also, the long-time SJ followers will tell you how tough it was to go up to La Ronge during the Travis Eggum, Marc-Andre Carre, etc. era at the turn of the last decade…Kaminski is doing a great job bringing that back.

 (Follow Jamie on Twitter at @Neugsie)