Combines, Beaver Blues in action SPHL opening weekend

Coming off their third league championship in the last four years, the Combines enter the 2023-24 campaign hungry to keep the dynasty alive, with a number of core returnees and some high-calibre reinforcements joining the club this season.

While the decision by superstar forward and leading playoff scorer Blake Tatchell to take the year off will undoubtedly leave an impact, the team has seen a strong influx of new talent, headlined by recent Battlefords North Stars graduate, Zane Florence; AAA Stars standout, Ryan Taylor; and reigning PJHL Top Defenceman, Connor Neave.

“We really like where we’re sitting right now and we think our team looks really good,” veteran forward and alternate captain, Aaron Cadrin said. “Like always, we’ve got our core of returning guys and with our core getting a bit older it’s nice to have these new guys every year come in and help replenish some of the youth. Overall we’re really happy with where our roster stands.”

In addition to the reinforcements, the Combines are also looking forward to a second full season with goaltender Cam Taylor between the pipes. Coming off a four-year hiatus from the game, Taylor joined the team last year and shut the door, backstopping the Combines to a 9-1 post-season record on their way to the championship while posting a shimmering 2.06 goals against average to earn Playoff MVP honours.

Also among those returning for the Combines this season will be the leading scorer from a year ago, Jake McMillen who paced the team with 24 points (11 goals, 13 assists) in nine games; and defending Most Valuable Defenceman, Myles Baptiste (20 points in 14 games).

The Combines home opener Saturday versus Redberry will be at 8 p.m. at the ACC (Civic Centre). The full Combines roster can be found here.

Battlefords Beaver Blues

When the Beaver Blues take to the ice Saturday night for their season opener, the team will also be returning to action with a healthy mix of veterans and youth contingent looking to cut their teeth at the senior hockey ranks.

Coming off back-to-back playoff runs that ended just short of a finals appearance, with semi-final defeats the last two years to Turtleford, defenceman and manager of the Beaver Blues, Josh Shynkaruk said fans can expect to see a number of new faces this season.

“We’re looking younger this year, and we’re going through a bit of a rebuilding stage,” he said. “We do have a lot of returning guys, but a lot of guys are busy with work and getting a bit older so I don’t know how often some guys will make it out. We have a few local young guys coming in that are going to be pretty key components to our team this year I think.”

Among the new additions will be forwards Mason Russell from the Langley Trappers of the PJHL, and Tyler Payne who played with the Battlefords Barons U18 AA team from 2017-20; as well as goaltender, William Lehman who joins the senior ranks after two seasons of Junior B with his hometown Lloyd Bobcats.

The trio join a strong returning core headlined by the leading scorer from a season ago, Kevin Bendall, who finished sixth in league scoring with 30 points (13 goals, 17 assists) in 14 games; and Tyler Wasmuth who had 25 points in 14 games.

Shynkaruk said the key opening weekend will be getting up to speed quickly.

“I don’t think a whole lot of guys have skated much over the summer, so this first game will be getting our legs under us, getting tape-to-tape passing down pat, and then on the physical side of things, body contact is going to be a big part of our first couple of games,” he said. “The scoring will come in time throughout the season, but as long as we can keep our legs moving and the bodies flying I think we’ll be fine.”

The Beaver Blues will open their schedule in Neilburg Saturday night with puck drop at 7:30 p.m. The full Beaver Blues roster can be found here.

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Martin.Martinson@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @MartyMartyPxP1

by Martin Martinson

Combines, Beaver Blues in action SPHL opening weekend

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