All twelve teams in the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League have now played at least eight games in their 2024/25 regular season and the parody is already showing up with top spot to eighth separated by just four points.
So who returns to the top spot this week?
The SportsCage SJHL Power Rankings are created by having contributors independently rank each team from No. 1 to No. 12, then averaging out the scores.
1. Melfort Mustangs (6-2-0)
The Mustangs split their two games this past weekend with Flin Flon and rebounded pretty nicely on Saturday with a home ice win over the Bombers. Melfort tied with Yorkton for the best win percentage at 0.750 through eight games. Twelve skaters with at least a goal this season for the defending champs
This Week: Oct. 18th vs. Kindersley / Oct. 19th @ Nipawin
Top Scorer: Logan Belton - 13 points in 8 games
2. Yorkton Terriers (6-2-0)
Offense continues to not be an issue for the Terriers as they’ve scored 36 goals in their opening eight games and they’re starting to get some depth scoring as well. Still want to clean up their play defensively with goals against as in their two losses they gave up a combined 13 goals.
This Week: Oct 16th @ Estevan / Oct 18th vs. Melville / Oct. 19th @ Melville
Top Scorer: Jaron Desnoyers - 15 points in 8 games
3. Melville Millionaires (6-2-1)
The Moneymen had a mixed bag of a week as they suffered their first two regulation losses to Weyburn & La Ronge, before rebounding a big way on Saturday against the Ice Wolves with a shutout victory to carry some momentum into huge rivalry weekend coming up
This Week: Oct 18th @ Yorkton / Oct. 19th vs. Yorkton
Top Scorer: Caden Drury - 19 points in 9 games
4. Weyburn Red Wings (4-4-0)
After starting their season with a 0 and 4 start, the Red Wings have now rattled off four straight victories outscoring their opponents 25-9 in those victories. Ethan Dekay, Jaxson Ruthven and Jerome Maharaj have become one of the most dangerous trios in the league.
This Week: Oct. 16th @ Nipawin / Oct. 18th @ Flin Flon / Oct. 19th @ Flin Flon
Top Scorer: Jerome Maharaj - 12 points in 5 games
5. Humboldt Broncos (5-3-1)
The Broncos lost back to back to start the week while giving up thirteen in two games before coming back to score nine on Saturday to end the weekend on a high note. Consistency in their game is I’m sure something Head Coach Brayden Klimosko is looking for going forward.
This Week: Oct. 19th vs. La Ronge
Top Scorer: Jacob Strizzi - 16 points in 9 games
6. Flin Flon Bombers (5-4-1)
A split week against the defending champions has the Bombers back at square one from last week, but home ice is always an advantage especially at the Whitney Forum where Flin Flon plays the next five to try and make some hay in the standings.
This Week: Oct 18 vs. Weyburn / Oct. 19th vs. Weyburn
Top Scorer: Koen Senft - 12 points in 10 games
7. Kindersley Klippers (6-3-0)
In a month where it saw them play eight of their 11 games on home ice the Klippers have taken advantage of it for the most part with points in all three games this week including two victories.
This Week: Oct 18th @ Melfort / Oct. 20th vs. Kindersley
Top Scorer: Jaxon Herchak - 10 points in 8 games
8. Battlefords North Stars
It was a very interesting and busy week for the North Stars as they beat their former coach in a wild one on Friday before dropping a convincing matchup the next night in Humboldt. 21 goals against in the last three game is not ideal for a team playing the next five on the road, but the return of veteran Justen Maric should help with that for newly named Head Coach Martin Smith
This Week: Oct 16th @ Notre Dame / Oct. 17th @ Notre Dame
Top Scorer: Anthony Campbell / Nikita Ivashchenko / Rylan Williams - 10 points in 8 games each
9. La Ronge Ice Wolves (4-4-1)
La Ronge let a chance at a perfect week slip away after getting shut out on Saturday against Melville after a solid effort from netminder Graham Brown on Friday. A boost of success for the powerplay (9.6% overall) is needed to have more consistent success.
This Week: Hudson Cameron - 8 points in 9 games
Top Scorer: Oct. 18th vs. Nipawin / Oct. 19th @ Humboldt
10. Estevan Bruins (3-3-1-1)
The Bruins earned three out of a possible six points in a three games in 4 nights road trip and seem to be finding a little bit of groove which came after the acquisition of 20 year old netminder Kyle Kelsey, who’ll provide some stability.
This Week: Oct 16th vs. Yorkton
Top Scorers: Kent Moors - 8 points in 8 games
11. Notre Dame Hounds (2-7-0)
Notre Dame kicked off their week with a crazy road overtime victory over Battlefords, they followed it up with just two goals in two losses to Kindersley and Weyburn. Hounds have given up a league-high 40 goals in their first nine games.
This Week: Oct 16th vs. Battlefords / Oct. 17th vs. Battlefords / Oct 20th @ Kindersley
Top Scorer: Neka Jean - 10 points in 9 games
12. Nipawin Hawks (1-7-1)
Nipawin has only one victory in their first nine games and a reason for that is their lack of offence. Just 19 goals early on or 2.1 goals per game isn’t going to win many games especially with the high-scoring SJHL early on but four of the next five games in front of the home fans at the Cage should help a bit.
This Week: Oct 16th vs. Weyburn / Oct. 18th @ La Ronge / Oct. 19th vs Nipawin
Top Weekly Scorer: Will Whitter - 7 points in 9 games
