Zane Florence of the Meota Combines has been a force in his first season of SPHL hockey, sitting second overall in league scoring with 12 points (six goals, six assists) in just three games this season heading into the weekend. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Martin Martinson

Sask Prairie Hockey League

Combines, Beaver Blues highlight SPHL weekend slate

Dec 8, 2023 | 6:00 PM

It’s a busy weekend just around the corner in the Saskatchewan Prairie Hockey League (SPHL), with four games on the Friday slate, and another three scheduled for Saturday.

Headlining the weekend schedule, the Meota Combines will host the Neilburg Monarchs in North Battleford Friday; while the Battlefords Beaver Blues will play a double-header on the road in Spiritwood Friday against the Glaslyn North Stars; and Radisson Saturday, against the Wheatkings.

Meota Combines

The Combines enter the weekend in top spot of the SPHL standings, with a perfect 4-0-0 record.

Following a busy start to their schedule, the Combines will enter play Friday coming off a two-week break allowing other teams to catch up in the games played department.

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Veteran forward and captain, Bryce Gatzke said the team is looking forward to getting back into game action.

“It’ll be nice to jump back into it and get going again,” he said. “Neilburg’s one of the hottest teams in the league right now, as they’ve beaten Battleford and Turtleford back-to-back weekends, so we know they’ll be hungry and they’ll be a tough team to play against, so we’ll definitely have to come out with our A-game tonight.”

Reuniting a budding rivalry in the league, Friday night will mark the first matchup between the Combines and Monarchs since the teams met last year in the first round of the playoffs in Neilburg’s return to the senior hockey ranks.

Puck drop Friday night will be at 8:30 p.m. at the Access Communications Centre in North Battleford.

Battlefords Beaver Blues

The Beaver Blues enter the weekend second in the league standings with a 3-2-0 record through five games, coming off a 6-5 victory last Saturday in a barnburner versus Radisson.

Opening their weekend road swing in Spiritwood before heading on to Radisson to meet the Wheatkings once again, player/manager with the team Josh Shynkaruk said the key for the Beaver Blues will be playing to their strengths of speed and physicality.

“When we played Radisson last weekend it was a pretty tough game, and a rough game, so going into tomorrow’s game we’re looking to continue our physicality against them,” he said.

“We haven’t seen Glaslyn play yet, so we’re just going to continue to play how we have been, as our physical side has always been our number one [attribute] and our guys are a lot faster than in some past years, so when you add it all together it’s been a good combo.”

Puck drop Friday in Spiritwood will be at 8 p.m., with Saturday’s start in Radisson also at 8 p.m.

Other weekend action

In other action around the league Friday, the Turtleford Tigers welcome the Redberry Raiders to town for an 8:30 p.m. puck drop, while the Perdue Pirates host the Maidstone Jets in Biggar at 8:30 p.m. Saturday’s other games will see Neiburg host Glaslyn at 8:30 p.m., and Maidstone at home against Turtleford at 9 p.m.

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Martin.Martinson@pattisonmedia.com

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