Game 2 of the SJHL Showcase between the Estevan Bruins and the Battlefords North Stars (Ben Tompkins/northeastNOW Staff)

By Ben Tompkins

Night 1

2023 SJHL Showcase underway

Nov 14, 2023 | 10:12 AM

The first night of the 2023 Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League Showcase has come and gone at the Warman Home Centre Communiplex.

The annual event now pushed back to mid-November, gives all 12 SJHL teams a chance to have their players seen by scouts from across North America.

Levels run from simple prairie collegiate competition, all the way to the NHL.

“This is an opportunity for scouts to see our players live, compare them to other prospects and share notes with other scouts,” explained SJHL Commissioner, Kyle McIntyre.

The Showcase runs for four days (Monday through Thursday) as each team plays twice, resulting in 12 games overall.

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Two games were on Monday night, while four run on both Tuesday and Wednesday before the Showcase wraps up with two on Thursday.

“We want to showcase the finest and brightest talent of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League, and we believe that we have an outstanding product,” McIntyre added.

During the 2022-23 season, the SJHL had a total of 66 commitments by its players, which included 20 to NCAA Division I schools.

Other commitments included 20 to NCAA Divison III, 10 to USPORTS, nine to ACAC (Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference), four to ACHA (American Collegiate Hockey Association) Division 1, and four to the BICHL (British Columbia Intercollegiate Hockey League).

“We really want to build on that success,” McIntyre told northeastNOW. “Last season we had an outstanding year in terms of our recruiting class, and we really want to help showcase our players and we want them to continue to be student-athletes.”

The first game of the showcase was a rematch of an Oct. 14 contest between the number one ranked team in the Canadian Junior Hockey League (CJHL), the Flin Flon Bombers, and the Weyburn Red Wings.

Flin Flon won 2-1 in a shootout during the first matchup and Weyburn was out for revenge.

It looked like the Red Wings were off to a good start as they opened the scoring, but that was the best it got for them, as the Bombers rattled off eight straight goals after that, to take a commanding 8-1 victory.

Meanwhile, the second matchup of the night was a lot closer, at least until the third period, as it was a battle between the two hottest teams in the league.

The Estevan Bruins previously won five in a row, while the Battlefords North Stars pushed their winning streak to seven straight, as two third-period goals sealed a 5-1 win for them.

The Showcase will get back in action Tuesday morning at 10:30, as the Notre Dame Hounds take on the Melfort Mustangs.

According to McIntyre, Stangs’ forward Ryan Duguay is one of many players he has his eyes on for potential commitment, along with La Ronge Ice Wolves forward, Jacob Cossette.

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Ben.Tompkins@pattisonmedia.com

On X @BenTompkins_8