The Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League playoff picture became clear following Friday night’s action.
In the Itech Conference, Flin Flon clinched second place with a 6-4 victory over La Ronge, while Melfort wrapped up third despite falling 4-0 to the Melville Millionaires. Nipawin’s 4-3 overtime loss to the Humboldt Broncos gave the Mustangs that coveted third spot and a first round playoff bye.
In the Sherwood Conference, Weyburn edged Notre Dame 5-4 and the Millionaires blanked the Mustangs to keep pace, but the Mils have simply run out of games as the Wings clinched top spot with that victory. Yorkton took care of third in the Sherwood with a 5-1 win over Battlefords. Kindersley failed to keep pace as they were shutout for the second straight night, 5-0 against Estevan, in what is now, officially, a Sherwood Conference Elimination Series preview.
Therefore, when the playoffs begin next weekend it will be Nipawin against Battlefords in a best of five Itech Conference Elimination Series. Humboldt will play the winner in a best of seven. Flin Flon will meet Melfort in the Itech Conference Semi-Finals, but both teams get the benefit of waiting out the Elimination Series before they clash.
In the Sherwood Conference, Weyburn will play the winner of the Klippers-Bruins best of five Elimination Series. Melville and Yorkton will tangle in the other Sherwood Conference Semi-Final, but will get the benefit of waiting out the Elimination Series. In the case of the Terriers, they will have a full two weeks off as Friday’s win over the Stars put a wrap on their regular schedule.
While Estevan and Yorkton have completed their schedules, the matter of an SJHL scoring crown is still to be determined. It is, likely, a three way race between Rylan Schwartz, Brady Wacker, and Preston Shupe. Schwartz is up to 83-points following his four point effort against the Wings on Friday and the Notre Dame forward is enjoying a three point lead on the Weyburn captain Shupe, who will finish his year tonight (Saturday) when the Wings host the Klippers. Wacker has 79-points and his club has two games left to play, but Wacker didn’t dress in Friday’s overtime victory over the Hawks. Kindersley’s Brett Leedahl has 76-points and three games remaining.
The battle for goalies is also tight with the regular season into the final days. Humboldt’s Andrew Bodnarchuk has the lowest GAA at 2.31, but Travis Bosch is within striking distance at 2.36. The Broncos and Millionaires end the year against each other on Tuesday night and both of those puckstoppers figure to get the call when the two sides come together at Melville Stadium.