(Photo courtesy/SJHL, X)

By Ben Tompkins

Best of the Best

Hawks and Broncos players showoff at SJHL/MJHL Showcase

Feb 3, 2024 | 10:47 AM

The 2024 SJHL/MJHL Showcase is now in the books as all the players have returned home from Winnipeg and are ready to get back to regular league action.

That includes a laundry list of players from the northeast as the Nipawin Hawks and Humboldt Broncos were well represented at the annual event.

In total, a combined 17 players between the two clubs made up the 60-man SJHL roster which was split into three teams, who everyone playing two games.

Nipawin Hawks

For the Hawks in particular, they had six of their guys out in Manitoba, totaling six points and a victory by their netminder.

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“It’s a great experience for all of our players, they get to stack up against the competition and you see which guys can separate themselves and which guys kind of just fall behind. There was a really good turnout of scouts and schools in attendance, so it’s great for them to be able to showcase themselves,” explained Nipawin head coach Tad Kozun.

“We watched a lot of hockey over the weekend and I thought all of our guys showcased themselves very well and represented the community and our team in a very professional manner, so I’m really happy with how the week went.”

Braxton Buckgerger was the lone black and gold member on Team Gold, as he registered one assist.

Meanwhile, Liam McInnis was the lone skater on Team White, putting up a goal and an assist, while his netminder teammate Damon Cunnigham started one of the two games, backstopping his group to a 7-5 win on Day 2.

Hometown kid Finley Radloff, Braxton Buckeberger’s younger brother Ronan, and Landon Pappas rounded out the crew, as Kozun served as the assistant coach for the younger group.

Radloff scored once and Ronan had two assists during the tournament.

Humboldt Broncos

As for the Broncos, they had a league-high representation as 11 of their players, including their head coach and their trainer, hit the bus.

While that’s a lot of travel for a majority of their group in a short span, their bench boss believed it was an invaluable experience moving forward in their season and also showed credit to their teammates back home.

“I do really think it does help their confidence to be able to get into that. We also said it’s a credit to those guys who aren’t there too because it’s a team game and how your team does, usually determines your representation in that way,” Scott Barney told northeastNOW.

Benjamin Motew was the only member of the Green and Gold who suited up for Team Gold as he backstopped the SJHL to a win in the opening game of the tournament.

He stopped 37 of 39 shots that came his way, earning himself the Player of the Game honours.

Meanwhile, Spencer Bell, Travis Bryson, Cage Newans, Connor Thue, and Daylan Weigel all played together on Team White.

Bell had an assist, Bryson scored twice, Newans recorded a helper, and Weigel added an assist.

And finally, Matthew Van Blaricom, Jacob Strizzi, Conner Miller, Ben Constantino, and Aidan Fischer competed for the U18 crew.

Strizzi put up a goal, Constantino posted a goal and two assists, and Fischer registered the victory with 32 saves on 34 shots for the Player of the Game to conclude the tournament.

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Ben.Tompkins@pattisonmedia.com

On X @BenTompkins_8