The quest for the Canterra Seeds Cup begins on Friday in the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL).
Bitter rivals collide as the Melville Millionaires (31-22-2-1) take on the Yorkton Terriers (33-21-2-0). Separated by just three points in the Viterra Division, the Terriers earned home ice advantage. The season series was technically split at four games apiece after a Yorkton was forced to take a forfeit in late October. The Terriers offence is led by left winger Jaron Desnoyers who scored 30 goals and 75 points in 48 games. Melville is backstopped by Nick Genette who finished 4th in save percentage (2.56), and 5th in save percentage (0.915%)
Yorkton Terriers (4) vs Melville Millionaires (5)
Game 1 – March 21st – Melville at Yorkton – 7:00PM
Game 2 – March 23rd – Melville at Yorkton – 7:00PM
Game 3 – March 25th – Yorkton at Melville – 7:00PM
Game 4 – March 26th – Yorkton at Melville – 7:00PM
Game 5 (if necessary) – March 28th – Melville at Yorkton – 7:00PM
Game 6 (if necessary) – March 29th – Yorkton at Melville – 7:00PM
Game 7 (if necessary) – April 1st – Melville at Yorkton – 7:00PM
The Flin Flon Bombers (38-13-4-1) were the SJHL’s second best team this season and will open their first round series at home against the Humboldt Broncos (28-22-3-3). The Broncos beat the Bombers 4-3 at the Whitney Forum in late October but lost the next three contests.
Flin Flon Bombers (2) vs Humboldt Broncos (7)
Game 1 – March 21st – Humboldt at Flin Flon – 7:30PM
Game 2 – March 22nd – Humboldt at Flin Flon – 7:30PM
Game 3 – March 25th – Flin Flon at Humboldt – 7:30PM
Game 4 – March 26th – Flin Flon at Humboldt 7:30PM
Game 5 (if necessary) – March 29th – Humboldt at Flin Flon – 7:30PM
Game 6 (if necessary) - March 31st – Flin Flon at Humboldt – 7:30PM
Game 7 (if necessary) – April 2nd – Humboldt at Flin Flon – 7:30PM
The Viterra Division Champions will battle the Nutrien Division Champions in the opening round when the Weyburn Red Wings, who are hoping to build on one of their best seasons in recent memory (35-19-2-0) they take on the Battlefords Stars (29-22-3-2). Angelo Zol was a big part of Weyburn’s success this season finishing with a save percentage of 0.919 in goal and 5th in goals against average at 2.63. The Stars won the season series three games to one.
Weyburn Red Wings (3) vs Battlefords North Stars (6)
Game 1 – March 21st – Battlefords at Weyburn – 7:00PM
Game 2 – March 22nd – Battlefords at Weyburn – 7:00PM
Game 3 – March 25th – Weyburn at Battlefords – 7:30PM
Game 4 – March 26th – Weyburn at Battlefords – 7:30PM
Game 5 (if necessary) – March 29th – Battlefords at Weyburn – 7:00PM
Game 6 (if necessary) – March 31st – Weyburn at Battlefords – 7:30PM
Game 7 (if necessary) – April 2nd – Battlefords at Weyburn – 7:00PM
The regular season champion Melfort Mustangs (46-8-0-2) will take on the Kindersley Klippers (25-26-3-2) in the opening round. The Mustangs boast the league’s top two goaltenders in goals against. Kristian Coombs finished second in the league at 2.01, while teammate Madden Mulawka (who had a brief stint this season with the WHL’s Regina Pats) finished just behind, in third, at 2.24 percent. The Mustangs attack is led by Reilley Kotai who finished with 39 goals and 77 points atop the league’s scoring race. The Mustangs swept the season series with Kindersley.
Melfort Mustangs (1) vs Kindersley Klippers (8)
Game 1 – March 21st – Kindersley at Melfort – 7:30PM
Game 2 – March 22nd – Kindersley at Melfort – 7:30PM
Game 3 – March 25th – Melfort at Kindersley – 7:30PM
Game 4 – March 26th – Melfort at Kindersley – 7:30PM
Game 5 (if necessary) – March 29th – Kindersley at Melfort – 7:30PM
Game 6 (if necessary) – March 31st – Melfort at Kindersley – 7:30PM
Game 7 (if necessary) – April 2nd – Kindersley at Melfort – 7:30PM
The winners of each opening round series will be re-seeded for the second round.
