(Graphic courtesy/SJHL)

By Ben Tompkins

Future of the League

2024 SJHL Draft to begin at 3 p.m.

Jun 11, 2024 | 12:31 PM

The best and brightest of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League’s (SJHL) future will soon officially be a part of a Junior A organization, beginning at 3 p.m. today.

The 2024 SJHL Draft will see two rounds of selections of 2009-born players, followed by six rounds of selections of 2008-born players.

Players eligible to be selected must be Saskatchewan residents, from outside of the 12 SJHL markets (or not auto-protected) and previously undrafted by any SJHL team.

The draft order is determined by the 2023/24 regular season standings, in reverse order.

Without trades, the draft order would be for each round:

FSIN

Chief Bobby Cameron re-elected for fourth term as FSIN Chief

Oct 31, 2024

Economy

Economy stalled in August, Q3 growth looks to fall short of Bank of Canada estimates

Oct 31, 2024

Take a break

Hawks hope hiatus helps to turn season around

Oct 30, 2024

1. Notre Dame Hounds
2. La Ronge Ice Wolves
3. Yorkton Terriers
4. Nipawin Hawks
5. Kindersley Klippers
6. Estevan Bruins
7. Weyburn Red Wings
8. Melville Millionaires
9. Battlefords North Stars
10. Humboldt Broncos
11. Melfort Mustangs
12. Flin Flon Bombers

The Hounds, however, have already traded away both of their first-round picks this year.

It will be the La Ronge Ice Wolves who are first on the clock, after they acquired the number-one overall pick of the 2009 portion, late last week.

Meanwhile, the Battlefords North Stars will have the number-one overall selection in the 2008 portion of the draft.

Other draft pick trades include the Melfort Mustangs getting the Weyburn Red Wings’ second-round pick in the 2008-born draft, following their big acquisition of Nicholas Andrusiak from the Melville Millionaires, which sent away their first-round selections in both portions of this year’s draft.

The Humboldt Broncos also picked up an additional pick, grabbing a second-round selection in the 2009-born draft from the Notre Dame Hounds, which originally belonged to Battlefords.

Drafted players are expected to be selected from the Saskatchewan Under-18 ‘AAA’, ‘AA’, and Under-15 ‘AA’ leagues, as well as the Canadian Secondary School Hockey League (CSSHL).

Commissioner Kyle McIntyre is excited for this year’s draft.

“The SJHL Draft is an exciting time for the players, their families and for SJHL teams. We are extremely excited to welcome these prospects to the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League and look forward to seeing many in our SJHL communities in the future,” he said in a press release.

The 2024 SJHL Draft can be caught live on the league’s social media pages, with picks and local selections also being updated across Pattison Media portals.

–

Ben.Tompkins@pattisonmedia.com

On X @BenTompkins_8