Five North Stars were in the starting lineup for the SJHL's 20U Team Gold Tuesday, pictured L-R: Alex Izyk, Kian Bell, Tanner Gold, Ben Portner, and Brad Blake. Also pictured far left is Team Gold goalie Benjamin Motew of the Humboldt Broncos. (Submitted photo/Ice Wave Media/JuniorNightMB)

By Martin Martinson

SJHL/MJHL Showcase

Gold, Olsen score; Sask shines Day 1 of Showcase

Jan 31, 2024 | 11:43 AM

Battlefords North Stars’ defencemen Tanner Gold and Carson Olsen each scored a goal and the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League took all three games in an eventful opening day of the 2024 SJHL/MJHL Showcase, Tuesday in Winnipeg.

SJHL’s Team Gold defeats MJHL’s Team Red

Gold’s tally came on a power play goal for the cherry on top of a 5-2 win for Saskatchewan’s U20 Team Gold, over the Manitoba Junior Hockey League’s Team Red.

A 3-1 SJHL lead at the end of the first on goals by Melfort’s Aidan Hutchinson, Weyburn’s Jerome Maharaj, and Estevan’s Ilia Chmelevski, the MJHL would score again to get back to within one in the second, though that is as close as they would come.

Kindersley’s Tylin Hilbig made it 4-1 midway through the second, followed by Gold’s power play strike early in the third, to put the game on ice.

Building on strong season

AAA Sharks supplement core with key summer signings

2h ago

Bandits Softball

U19 Bandits open season with gold in Alberta

May 15, 2024

Community walk

Walk for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women raises awareness of 'Stolen Sisters'

May 15, 2024

Gold caught up with battlefordsNOW postgame, to recall the scoring play.

“[Stars’ teammate, Alex] Izyk and I were out there on the point on the power play, so we were passing it back and forth, and he found me down low and I just shot and it hit the back bar and went in, so I can’t complain,” the North Stars’ captain said. “The hockey was good, it was fast-paced, and it was fun out there.”

Between the pipes, Humboldt Broncos’ goaltender Benjamin Motew stopped 37/39 to backstop the team to the win and earn Team Gold Player of the Game honours.

SJHL’s Team White tops MJHL’s Team Black

The second 20U game of the day saw the SJHL’s Team White edge the MJHL’s Team Black 4-3, with a pair of goals from Notre Dame’s Cole Wirun and Humboldt’s Travis Bryson in the third period to tie, and eventually win the game.

La Ronge’s Mason Bueckert had a goal and an assist to earn Team White Player of the Game, while Flin Flon’s Jacob Vockler also scored for the team and Bombers’ goalie Harmon Laser-Hume made 19 saves on 22 shots for the win.

SJHL’s 18U Team Blue bests MJHL’s 18U Team White

The SJHL’s 18U Team Blue completed the opening day sweep in favour of their league with a 3-2 victory over the MJHL’s 18U Team White to cap the evening.

North Stars’ blue liner, Carson Olsen scored early in the second – as the second of three straight SJHL goals – to take a 3-0 lead through 40 minutes into the third period. Manitoba made things interesting with a pair late, thought Saskatchewan would hold on to take the opening meeting between the ‘Young Guns’ teams.

Anthony McIntosh of the Yorkton Terriers scored the opening goal in the win, and was named Player of the Game for Team Blue.

Wednesday slate

The second day of the Showcase kicked off Wednesday morning at 11 a.m., with the SJHL’s Team Gold in action against the MJHL’s Team Black.

The SJHL’s Team While will then play MJHL Team Red at 2 p.m.; followed by the second 18U showdown between the SJHL’s Team Blue and MJHL’s Team White at 5 p.m.

—

Martin.Martinson@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @MartyMartyPxP1