By Martin Martinson

A look at the final day of the SJHL/MJHL Showcase

Jan 15, 2019 | 12:45 PM

After a thoroughly eventful opening day of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League/Manitoba Junior Hockey League Showcase, early action on the second day suggests the pace of play may have actually amped up even further overnight – if that’s even possible.

In the first game of the day, the SJHL’s Team Schwartz met the MJHL’s Team Garbutt hoping to respond from a tough 4-3 loss in the shootout Monday, and avenge the loss.

Coming out hot right out of the gate, team Schwartz wasted no time, making it 1-0 not even three minutes into the opening period thanks to Nipawin Hawks’ forward, Jaxon Wiebe’s first of the showcase.

Following the game’s opening tally, Yorkton defenceman Tyson Janzen would also notch his first goal, making it 2-0 before the end of the period.

Picking up one of the helpers on Janzen’s tally was Hounds’ rookie, Jarrett Penner, a former teammate of Janzen’s with the Saskatoon Contacts.

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“I have a few buddies on this team,” Janzen said before the showcase, when asked what he was most looking forward to. “I haven’t played with them in a while, so it’ll be fun to play with them again.”

After two more goals in the second, scored by Melfort’s Parker Fofonoff and Humbolt’s Chanse Felgueiras made it 4-0 Team Schwartz, the third period would see the MJHL answer with a couple goals of their own. Ultimately, however, that is as close as Team Garbutt would get, 4-2 Team Schwartz in the final.

Between the pipes, Notre Dame Hounds’ goaltender, Riley Kohonick was named Player of the Game for Team Schwartz.

Turning aside 37 of the 39 shots he faced in the win. Kohonick’s saves included a few of the spectacular variety, especially late in the third period with Team Garbutt pushing hard.

Grady Hobbs of the MJHL’s Dauphin Kings scored a goal and was named Player of the Game for Team Garbutt.

The second game of the day, will see the SJHL’s Team Mitchell face Team Belfour.

Team Mitchell is coming off an 8-5 win over Team Zajac, that saw the Mefort Mustangs’ personnel steal the show, with both Justin Ball and Carson Albrecht now looking to build on an opening day four-point performance each.

Team Belfour meanwhile, who scored just one goal in their first outing, hope to improve on the offensive front in their encore performance.

Between the pipes, Humboldt Broncos goaltender, Dane Dow will dual Isaac Labelle of the WayWayseecappo Wolverines.

The final game of the evening will once again see the SJHL’s Team Kunitz in action, this time, taking on the MJHL’s Team Zajac.  

For Matthias Urbanski, with still a game to go in his second year at the event, he said he’s still soaking it in.

“It’s really cool to get the experience of being here,” Urbanski said. “It’s kind of a once-in-a-lifetime experience.”

Following up a Justen Close performance that earned the goaltender “Player of the Game,” honours in the team’s opening win, Nipawin Hawks’ goalie Patrick Pugliese will tend the pipes for Team Kunitz aiming for a similar result.

Pugliese will faceoff with Matt Radomsky in the Team Zajac crease, who will get his first start as well.

Martin.Martinson@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: MartyMartyPxP1