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 the last month. It’s a nod to one of those early tricks-of-the-trade – when emptying your notebook often led to an interesting column.
Top 10 Thoughts:
- Game of the year – so far: Buckle-up for Wednesday night in the Queen City when the first place Regina Pat Canadians host their arch rival Moose Jaw Winmar Warriors. Regina holds a three-point lead for top spot over Moose Jaw with nine games remaining in the regular-season. IF the Pat Cs emerge victorious, they take a strangle-hold on first place and home ice throughout the playoffs. IF the Warriors win, the gap is just a point – with Moose Jaw holding a game in-hand. Puck drops at 7:30 p.m.
- Almost twins: The Pat Cs and Warriors are nearly identical in so many key categories. Each team has lost two games in regulation; Regina has given up 89 goals against while Moose Jaw has allowed 87 goals; each time enters Wednesday riding hot streaks (Regina has won nine of 10 while Moose Jaw has won eight of 10).
- Maddox Schultz in rare company: The 15-year-old sensation is currently 8th all-time in SMAAAHL history for points-per-game with 2.68 points per contest for Regina this year. Schultz has 26 goals and 25 assists for 51 points in 19 games. It’s a star-filled list about Schultz on the leaderboard – including Mike Sillinger (1,049 NHL games) who had a ridiculous 4.32 points-per-game in 1986-87 for Regina when he notched 83 goals and 134 points in just 31 games. The rest of the top five all-time: Dale Derkatch (3.50 points-per-game), Ryan Smyth (3.31), Kevin Smyth (3.17), Tim Iannone (3.01).
- 30-goal club: Ryan Gibbs (Moose Jaw) and Boston Schmidt (Estevan) are the first to join the 30-goal club this year. In a much different time in the SMAAAHL – when the regular season featured 70 games – Mitch Messier (Mark’s cousin) scored 108 goals in the 1982-83 season for the Notre Dame Hounds.
- Memory lane: Still on the memory lane trip, the all-time record for points in a single SMAAAHL season also comes from 1982-83 when Iannone racked-up 211 points in 70 games.
- Clock is ticking: The Prince Albert Mintos face a critical game Tuesday night against the Warman Wildcats. Five points from the final playoff spot, the Mintos have 11 games left.
- Perfect in regulation: Goalies Steven Wawryk (Moose Jaw: 22 games) and Ben Meyer (Regina: 19 games) have yet to lose in regulation this year.
- Nugget for later: There are still miles and miles of road ahead until the playoff semi-finals, but something to store in the back of your mind. IF the Estevan Innovex Bears and Pat Cs meet, that would be an interesting match-up. In four games this year, the two teams were evenly matched. Each team recorded a decisive victory (Regina 7-2 on Dec. 13; Estevan 7-4 to start January) with the other two games being close (Regina winning in OT on Dec. 2 and Regina winning 5-3 on opening night of the year).
- Sizzling in January: The Saskatoon Blazers are 7-1 in January.
- Name dropping: If you missed it a few days ago, former Saskatoon Blazers Roger McQueen and Boston Buckberger are nominated for this year’s Hobey Baker Award, which is given to the top NCAA Men’s player.
