A new #1 team… AND the Insiders’ Panel highlights some of the teams that could upset the heavy favourites in the playoffs… BY Jonathan Huntington SASKATOON – Change is the key word to describe the last regular-season Power Rankings before the playoffs start on February 28. For the first time this year, we have a […]
BY Jonathan Huntington REGINA – In the biggest showdown of the year – so far – in the SMAAAHL, the Regina Pat Canadians scored three unanswered goals in the third period to defeat the Moose Jaw Winmar Warriors 7-6 on Wednesday night in the Queen City. The victory gives Regina a five-point first place cushion […]
BY Jonathan Huntington SASKATOON – When I was a young sports journalist in Edmonton many, many years ago, I was very fortunate to learn the trade from some of the best reporters in the country. This column is a throwback to those days – as I empty my notebook of interesting facts and tidbits from […]
BY Jonathan Huntington SASKATOON – Two periods don’t make a season, but two huge third-period comebacks this week have given the Battlefords Stars some critical room to breathe in the playoff race. The Stars entered this week in the final playoff spot in the SMAAAHL – clinging to a one-point lead over the Prince Albert […]
BY Jonathan Huntington SASKATOON – The majority of the teams in the SMAAAHL only have 11 or 12 games remaining in the regular season. With so many key playoff races underway, here at five thoughts to consider with just five weeks remaining in the regular season. Log jam for the final two playoff spots: Six […]
BY Jonathan Huntington SASKATOON – The cost of a good hockey stick is between $440-$480 these days – so, imagine losing the stick bag for your entire team! That’s the situation the Notre Dame Hounds in the SMAAAHL faced this week after returning from a U18AAA tournament in Halifax on Monday. For more than 48 […]
Playoff dates are now set… Wild week of upsets… Logjam for the final four playoff spots… BY Jonathan Huntington SASKATOON – The playoff battle to win the national championship will start with the SMAAAHL quarter-finals on Feb. 28th. With six weeks remaining in the regular season, dates for all playoff rounds were set this weekend: […]
BY Jonathan Huntington SASKATOON – Becoming a new head coach in the stretch run of a hockey season isn’t easy – but Josh Garbutt can draw on experience from several hockey masterminds. The new bench boss of the Yorkton Kinsmen Maulers played junior hockey for Dean Clark (WHL and CHL Coach of the Year) and […]
BY Jonathan Huntington SASKATOON – The all-star team consists of players from three different clubs with the Saskatoon Blazers claiming three spots. The team features one goalie and the five most-impactful players – regardless of position. Skaters: Kade Hughes – Grande Peace Storm: Quite simply, Hughes could take over the play on nearly any shift. His combination […]
BY Jonathan Huntington SASKATOON – Underneath the concourse at Merlis Belsher Place – in the tunnel outside the dressing rooms – during an early day of the Saskatchewan Hockey Classic, a Saskatoon Blazers coach challenged Shaan Basran to step-up and score a meaningful goal. The player-coach interaction in the hallway lasted less than 10 seconds […]
