Playoff preview: Here are the matchups for the 2026 SJHL postseason

The SJHL Logo. (Courtesy: The Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League)

Matchups are set for the 2026 Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL) playoffs.

The Melfort Mustangs begin their back-to-back championship defense as the six seed in search of their third-straight title.

Flin Flon claims top seed with a league-high 41 wins – 10 points ahead of second-best Yorkton and Battlefords.

Weyburn, Nipawin, Melville and Estevan round out the final eight teams vying for the 2026 Cantera Seeds Cup.

The postseason begins Friday, March 20, 2026.

Estevan Bruins (8) vs. Flin Flon Bombers (1)

The Flin Flon Bombers go into the postseason as overwhelming favourites, earning the number one seed and home-ice advantage throughout the playoffs.

With a 41-11-4 record, the Bombers posted a goal differential of 99 (234 goals for to 135 goals against) in 56 games, averaging more than four goals per game.

Joey Lies and Reid Arberry led the way for Flin Flon.

Lies finished fifth in the SJHL in goals (27) while both players were in the top 15 in points – Lies with 54 (12th), and Arberry notching 51 (13th).

The Bombers’ goaltender Charlie Tritt was the league’s best. With 23 wins in net, Tritt had a 2.12 GAA and a .934 save percentage.

As for the Bruins, they barely squeaked in the playoff picture.

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With a 26-25-5 record, Estevan finished the regular season with 57 points, just one point ahead of ninth place Humboldt.

Forward Ewan Rennie was the league’s top scorer, finding the back of the net 37 times. He added another 41 assists to finish second in the SJHL for points.

Rylan Williams was not far behind with 68 points (25G-43A), fifth in the entire league.

As a team, Estevan scored about 3.4 goals per game – giving up about 3.3.

Season series – Flin Flon wins 3-1.

Oct. 18 – Flin Flon 2 – 4 Estevan

Jan. 23 – Estevan 1 – 2 Flin Flon

Jan. 24 – Estevan 0 – 5 Flin Flon

Jan. 30 – Flin Flon 7 – 0 Estevan

Melville Millionaires (7) vs. Yorkton Terriers (2)

The Battle of Highway 10 highlights the first round as long-time rivals Yorkton and Melville battle in the round of 8.

Yorkton finished even on points with the Battlefords North Stars for second place but got the spot via the tiebreaker.

With a 37-17-2 record and 76 points, the Terriers nabbed the top spot in the Bunge Division.

Three Terriers finished in the top four in points, including Gabriel Courchesne who led the SJHL.

Courchesne was second best in goals (33), first in assists (47) for a league-best 80 points.

Jye Zawatski (3rd) and William Leonard (4th) were not far behind with 71 points (28G-43A) and 69 points (33G-36A), respectively.

Starting goalie Callum Creig was 27-10-2 backstopping Yorkton to a 2.74 GAA and .909 save percentage.

Melville finished third place in the division with 60 points.

Led by Kale Margolis, who scored 17 goals, assisted on 38 (55 points), the Mills secured a 25-21-10 regular season record.

Defenseman Boston Harkness was also among the league leaders in helpers, assisting on 38 Millionaires goals, tied for sixth-best in the SJHL with Margolis.

Tender Matt Spencer-Dahl was the third-best netminder in the league, with a 2.69 GAA and .916 save percentage in 23 games played.

Season series – Yorkton wins 6-2:

Oct. 10 Melville 7 – 2 Yorkton

Oct. 11 Yorkton 6 – 3 Melville

Nov. 21 Melville 5 – 4 Yorkton

Nov. 22 Yorkton 5 – 0 Melville

Jan. 2 Melville 2 – 3 Yorkton

Feb. 7 Yorkton 4 – 3 Melville

March 13 Yorkton 4 – 3 Melville

March 14 Melville 0 – 4 Yorkton

Melfort Mustangs (6) vs. Battlefords North Stars (3)

The Melfort Mustangs are in a very different position they have been the past two seasons when they won league championships in both years – coming into this postseason as the number six seed.

Melfort has won back-to-back Cantera Seeds Cups and are in search of their third-straight.

Going 30-22-4 in the 2025-26 regular season, the Mustangs earned 64 points – 12 points behind their first round opponent.

Backstopped by their goaltending, the Mustangs caught fire down the stretch, finishing the season with eight wins in their last 10 games.

Rookie goalie Kason Kobelka was top-two in the SJHL this season, finishing 19-9-3 on the year with a 2.33 GAA and .915 save percentage.

They also scored by committee, finishing the year with just one player (Bo Eisner) in the top-25 points.

Earning home ice for the first round, Battlefords finished the 2025-26 season with a 3-15-6 record (76 points).

With two players in the top-10 in scoring, Anthony Campbell and Josh Knittig led the Stars.

Campbell was ninth in league scoring with 22 goals, 35 assists (56 points) while Knittig (20G-36A-55P) was 10th.

Season series – Melfort wins 3-1:

Oct. 3 Battlefords 2 – 3 Melfort

Oct. 4 Melfort 2 – 0 Battlefords

Jan. 10 Battlefords 10 – 2 Melfort

Jan. 27 Melfort 4 – Battlefords 3

Weyburn Red Wings (5) vs. Nipawin Hawks (4)

The Weyburn Red Wings were the SJHL runners up last season, and their road back to the finals starts with the Nipawin Hawks.

On paper the most evenly contested matchup in the first round, both teams finished second in their respective divisions and were tied at 72 regular season points.

Nipawin had two players finish top 10 in points this season, Eric Hoiness and Mason Karakochuk, while Weyburn had one with Josh Sale leading their offensive efforts.

Drew Molde, Callas Pierce and Roan Burgess also had 20-plus goal seasons for the Wings.

Nipawin’s goaltending has been consistent across the board this season, lead by Gage Roberts with a 2.69 GAA and backed up by Colten Scott with a 2.80 GAA.

Weyburn’s Nate Stevens, who played in the most games for the team’s rotation this season, posted a 2.89 on the year.

The Nipawin Hawks will be in the hunt for their first championship since 2018.

Season series – Weyburn wins 3-1:

Oct. 18 – Weyburn 6 – 2 Nipawin

Dec. 10 – Weyburn 4 – 2 Nipawin

Feb. 4 – Nipawin 2 – Weyburn 0

Feb. 14 – Weyburn 3 – Nipawin 2