Team Global Ag Risk Solutions was the ultimate champion of the Sask Milk Cup at the SJHL Virtual Showcase on the weekend. (Twitter/theSJHL)

By Mat Barrett

SJHL Virtual Showcase

SJHL Virtual Showcase sees north young guns win Sask Milk Cup

Feb 1, 2021 | 5:29 PM

The Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL) wrapped up their Virtual Showcase on the weekend.

Four teams comprised of some of the best players in the SJHL battled in a tournament for the Sask Milk Cup. Two teams featured players born in 2002 or later from the north and south teams, while the other two teams featured players born in 2001 and earlier from each group of teams.

Team played two games to get seeded, and then played a semi final before the final game on Saturday afternoon. The Global Ag Risk Solutions team featuring the young guns from the north teams met the Sherwood team which featured the veterans from the north, and it was the youth that came out on top with an 8-7 overtime win giving Team Global Ag Risk Solutions the first ever Sask Milk Cup.

Humboldt Broncos play-by-play voice Rory McGouran was one of the broadcasters calling the games over the weekend and said while some people may have had their scepticisms at first, the results didn’t matter in the end.

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“It wasn’t about who came out on top,” McGouran said. “It was about giving a little bit more spotlight, although virtual, on to the players that we all know are amazing in this league, and I think they did that in spades.”

The SJHL used the virtual showcase in place of the annual SJHL/MJHL Showcase that would normally take place in Regina and would welcome scouts from across North America to see what the leagues had to offer. The virtual take on the event was another way to bring names to the forefront, even though the virtual stats won’t matter to scouts.

For McGouran personally, he said the event was a blast and he “felt like himself again” broadcasting hockey.

“We’re yearning to get back into a broadcast booth,” he said. “So, even just to do that and refresh the chops a bit over a video game, it juts puts a smile on any broadcasters face.”

Kindersley Klippers forward Logan Linklater was tournament MVP with 11 points in four games played. Team Global Ag Risk Solutions featured four players from Kindersley, Melfort, and Nipawin, three from Flin Flon and La Ronge, as well as two members of the Battlefords North Stars.

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mat.barrett@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @matbarrett6