Here's what's going on around the SJHL this week.
Noah Kraus and Luke McKechnie above rest in crease
Goaltending has been a big part of the early-season success for both the Melville Millionaires and Melfort Mustangs. Noah Kraus and Luke McKechnie have been putting together impressive seasons, consistently giving their teams a chance to pick up points.
Kraus is 8-2 with a 1.80 goals-against average and a .949 save percentage, while McKechnie is also 8-2 with a 1.48 goals-against average and a .941 save percentage, along with two shutouts.
It's no coincidence that Melville and Melfort have also been the stingiest teams defensively in the SJHL, allowing the fewest goals against. When you have goaltenders playing at that level and a team defending well in front of them, it makes for a pretty tough combination to beat.
Warman Wolverines continue to roll
The Warman Wolverines aren't showing many signs of slowing down, riding a six-game winning streak while finding plenty of offence along the way. They've scored 35 goals during that stretch and continue to establish themselves near the top of the SJHL standings.
Captain Owen Parks has been leading the charge, putting together an eight-game point streak with 19 points through 15 games.
The next stretch will provide a pretty good test, with four straight road games against Melville, Flin Flon twice and Humboldt. That's a demanding schedule against some quality competition, and it'll be interesting to see if Warman can keep the momentum going.
Western All-Star Challenge arrives in Martensville
The Western All-Star Challenge takes over the Martensville Recreation Centre this week, bringing together some of the top young talent from the SJHL and MJHL.
The event features players born in 2008 or later, giving them an opportunity to showcase their abilities in front of scouts and take another step toward potential opportunities at the U SPORTS, ACAC and NCAA levels.
Monday features practices before the teams meet Tuesday night at 7:45, with another game Wednesday morning at 11:30.
It's a great development opportunity for these players, while also giving fans a chance to see some of the next generation of junior hockey talent.
Nipawin bringing plenty of offensive firepower
One team that's been making plenty of noise offensively is the Nipawin Hawks. Brock Evans, Mason Karakochuk and Jack Janzen have been among the league's leading scorers, giving the Hawks a dangerous trio up front.
Evans leads the SJHL scoring race with 23 points, while Karakochuk and Janzen have 21 apiece. Karakochuk has also been finding the back of the net regularly, leading the league with 16 goals.
When you have that kind of production coming from your top players, opposing teams have plenty to worry about. The question now is whether Nipawin can continue that offensive pace as the schedule gets tougher.
