Monday Confidential: The Drive to the Playoffs

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 […]

Monday Confidential: Playoff dates announced

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: […]

Monday Confidential: All-Star Team – Saskatchewan Hockey Classic

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 […]

Monday Confidential: The most important factors in coaching

BY Jonathan Huntington SASKATOON – If you spend a few minutes in the tunnels under the concourse at Merlis Belsher Place this week during the Saskatchewan Hockey Classic, you quickly realize the different styles of coaching. I asked three head coaches for their answers to two important questions: What is the most important factor in […]

Monday Confidential: A “Bucket List” Experience

BY Jonathan Huntington SASKATOON – Ryan Keller has the perfect marketing slogan for the Spengler Cup tournament in Davos, Switzerland: “It’s a very cool experience… it should be on every hockey fan’s bucket list.” The current Saskatoon Contacts head coach played for Team Canada in the 2007 tournament and still has vivid memories from scoring […]

Monday Confidential: Players of the Month

SMAAAHL alumni compete at Junior A World Challenge… Insiders Panel selects the Players of the Month… Early ratings from Flo Hockey… BY Jonathan Huntington SASKATOON – Seven SMAAAHL alumni were part of Team Canada West at the 2025 World Junior A Challenge in Quebec, which wrapped-up Saturday. The United States defeated Team Canada West 5-1 in […]

Monday Confidential: New Power Rankings

Several changes in the monthly power rankings… Our insider panel names the teams to watch after the holiday break. BY Jonathan Huntington SASKATOON – There is no shortage of intrigue in the latest SMAAAHL Power Rankings. Our panel of 14 insiders – coaches, managers, broadcasters – combined to make eight changes on the leaderboard compared […]

Monday Confidential: Deichert shines bright

Remarkable night for Moose Jaw forward… Maddox Schultz returns from injury… Estevan keeps rolling… BY Jonathan Huntington SASKATOON – In a season that has been dominated – so far – by chatter about Maddox Schultz and Liam Pue of the Regina Pat Canadians, Carson Deichert changed the narrative and skated into the spotlight Saturday night […]

Monday Confidential: Hot Teams

Estevan is on the comeback trail… Regina has at least a point in 14 straight… Three SMAAAHL teams going to the Circle K Tournament… World Junior speculation… BY Jonathan Huntington SASKATOON – The Estevan Innovex Bears started the year with three wins in 12 games. The dressing room didn’t crumble. The sky didn’t fall. The […]

Monday Confidential: SMAAAHL alumni in the NHL

Thirty SMAAAHL alumni are in the NHL… A stunning six NHL head coaches played in the SMAAAHL… 10 U18AAA teams have alumni in the NHL… BY Jonathan Huntington REGINA – There are 32 NHL teams – and 20 of them have at least one SMAAAHL alumni on their current roster. While that is impressive, the […]