The Broncos and Bruins battled back to cap off day three of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League showcase in Warman. (Submitted photo/Becky Zimmer)

By Becky Zimmer

Showcase in Warman

Plenty of local talent to watch as hockey scouts descend on SJHL Showcase in Warman

Sep 28, 2022 | 11:02 AM

Local SJHL players were giving it their all during the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League Showcase in Warman these last few days.

They were working hard, not just for the four valuable points in the league standings as regular play continues, but also for the 70 scouts that were there looking at potential post-secondary prospects for their Canadian and American colleges, even the NHL.

Especially after COVID restrictions were lifted, scouts were ready to see players on something other than HockeyTV, SJHL commissioner Kyle McIntyre told Pattison Media.

They want to see if the video matches what the players can do, he said.

“I’ve been super impressed with the speed and the level of skill and the level of competition. We had one game that was kind of a blowout today, but all the rest of it, really back and forth and been really tight. Anyone can win and the speed, the pace is absolutely incredible.”

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Cole Bell told Pattison Media that is the calibre of people he was keeping his eye on as he was scouting for Stevenson University in Maryland.

Saskatchewan is a “hidden gem” of talent, he said, with many players going on to have hockey success at the next level. Being on the east coast, Bell said they are looking for more Western Canadian players. All and all, it’s just a great four days of hockey, he said.

“It’s just been a fun atmosphere to watch and be a part of and play a small part in what’s going on here. I think the SJ has done a fantastic job of putting this whole thing on the presentations phenomenal, the organization, the scheduling, everything’s been top-notch, and it really speaks volumes for the league.”

According to the league, 60 players from last year’s teams committed to post-secondary education, including 10 from the Humboldt Broncos, six from the La Ronge Ice Wolves, and seven from the Melfort Mustangs.

Broncos head coach, Scott Barney, told Pattison Media that is the goal.

“You want to move as many guys forward as you can and hopefully, I think with the success we’ve had in the last few years, we’re just continuing to grow like that.”

With four full days of play, all 12 teams got two regular season games each.

One of the tight games was the Broncos versus the Estevan Bruins.

After fighting for the top spot last year, the two teams held nothing back as they traded goals back and forth. Estevan seemed to have the advantage in the final period until the last two minutes of play. Humboldt not only tied the game up at three apiece but also got the game-winner in quick succession to take the ‘W’ 4-3.

The Ice Wolves and the Klippers kicked off the showcase on Sept. 25 in Warman. (Submitted photo/Becky Zimmer)

Other games included La Ronge’s handy 4-1 win as they bowled over the Kindersley Klippers in the first game of the showcase.

Ice Wolves assistant coach Kyle Schneider said he didn’t want the presence of scouts to change the way his players worked the ice.

“Our message was for the guys is team success leads to individual success. So we don’t want to change any of our play just because there’s more scouts in the stands, we just want to play the same way.”

La Ronge and Humboldt also kicked off the second day of play with the Broncos dominating in a 10-3 win in a rematch of last year’s first-round playoff matchup.

Melfort and Battlefords’ both earned shutout wins over the Notre Dame Hounds and Weyburn Red Wings and will be facing off today on the last day of the showcase.

North Stars head coach Brayden Klimosko said his players went in hard in their 8-0 win against the Red Wings and they will have to do the same if they want to take on the physical Mustangs.

“Overall, we’ve got a lot of good hockey players and a lot of good people and, you know, hopefully, some of them get some real good looks here today.”

The North Stars and the Red Wings faced off at the showcase on Sept. 27 in Warman. (Submitted photo/Becky Zimmer)

Head coach of the Mustangs, Trevor Blevins, said they had a strong start against Notre Dame but lost some momentum in the remaining period. They know that won’t cut it against the North Stars.

“They always work hard and bring it every shift. So we got to be able to match that,” Blevins told Pattison Media.

Both the Broncos and North Stars are currently 5-0 in an undefeated start to the regular season.

Once again they’ll be fighting over the top spot in the Global Ag Risk Solutions division this season.

La Ronge and Melfort will be doing the same against the Flin Flon Bombers in the Sherwood Division.

After a 3-0 loss to kick off their own showcase showing, Nipawin Hawks will finish out the tournament in the final match against Estevan this afternoon.

The showcase has been hosted in Warman each year since 2015.

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becky.zimmer@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @bex_zim