It's a busy slate for Sask Prairie Hockey League playoff action heading into the weekend, with seven games scheduled across the league over the next four nights. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Martin Martinson

Sask Prairie Hockey League

SPHL playoffs to hit full swing this weekend

Feb 8, 2024 | 5:19 PM

The Saskatchewan Prairie Hockey League (SPHL) playoff picture is set, with post-season action officially kicking off in one series Wednesday night, and ramping up rapidly into a full-weekend slate.

Round 1 will see the top-seeded Neiburg Monarchs (1) play the Maidstone Jets (8); the Meota Combines (2) host the Redberry Raiders (7); the Turtleford Tigers (3) face-off with the Radisson Wheatkings (6); and the Battlefords Beaver Blues (4) play the Glaslyn North Stars (5).

Neilburg Monarchs (1) vs Maidstone Jets (8)

The top-seeded Monarchs enter the playoffs having won 11 straight, against a Maidstone team looking to right the ship and snap a four-game skid to end the regular season, heading into their opening game of the playoffs.

Tegan Peters led Neilburg and finished second overall in league scoring this season with 39 points in 16 games during the regular season, while Chase James and Ryden Ross tied for the Maidstone lead with 23 points in 15 games apiece.

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Game 1 of the series will be played Thursday night in Maidstone, with puck drop at 9 p.m. Game 2 will switch locations to Neilburg Friday for another 9 p.m. start.

Meota Combines (2) vs. Redberry Raiders (7)

The two-time defending champion, Meota Combines (13-3-0) will begin their quest for a third straight against a Redberry (4-10-2) team who have played some of their best hockey down the stretch, including a 5-3 win over Meota Jan. 19th, to split the regular season series at a game apiece.

Combines veteran forward, Aaron Cadrin said the biggest thing heading into the series opener Friday will be getting the team’s full lineup in action together which should provide a spark for the group.

“It’s looking like we’re going to show up for the opening game with a full squad and that’ll be the first time all year, so we’re really looking forward to it,” Cadrin said. “We beat Redberry at home and they beat us in their barn, so it should be a good series. They’re a good, young, quick team and I personally don’t think we’ve hit our full potential yet so now we should be able to see what we’ve got.”

Jayden Nachtegaele’s 31 points in 14 games paced the Combines and were third most in the SPHL this season, while Redberry’s Thomas Jean registered a club-high 20 points in 13 games.

Game 1 of the series Friday will be played at the Access Communications Centre in North Battleford, with puck drop at 8 p.m. Game 2 will be played Saturday in Blaine Lake at 7 p.m.

Turtleford Tigers (3) vs. Radisson Wheatkings (6)

The lone series to get underway Wednesday, saw the Turtleford Tigers open their series with the Wheatkings with a thrilling 5-4 overtime triumph, to take a 1-0 lead in the best-of-three series.

Turtleford’s Austin McDonald led the SPHL in scoring this season with 44 points in 16 games, while Chad Bernier’s 25 points in 15 games were the most amongst Wheatkings.

Game 2 of the series will be played in Radisson Friday night at 8:30 p.m.

Battlefords Beaver Blues (4) vs. Glaslyn North Stars (5)

The Beaver Blues (9-6-1) will host Glaslyn (9-7-0) Saturday night at Battleford Arena for the first game of the series, before a quick turnaround for Game 2, Sunday evening in St. Walburg.

Beaver Blues’ veteran, Kody Wolff said the key to the series for the Battlefords will be playing to their strengths as a team with strong fundamentals.

“I think the big thing is to keep our game simple,” he said. “We seem to have played well when we’ve done that this year and gotten back to the roots of hockey and not too above our skill level.

“We won one and lost one against them this year and they really showed what they’re made of in the second half, so they’re not going to be easy and we’re going to have to put our best effort in to beat these guys.”

The Beaver Blues were led in scoring this season by forward, Kevin Bendall, who scored 24 points in 14 games. Regan Yew led Glaslyn with 27 points in just seven games.

Game 1 between the Beaver Blues and Glaslyn North Stars Saturday in Battleford will be at 8:30 p.m. Game 2 Sunday in St. Walburg will be a 7:30 p.m. start.

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Martin.Martinson@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @MartyMartyPxP1