The ice may be out of most arenas in Saskatchewan, but that doesn't mean things are in limbo with the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League.
The off-season of player and personnel acquisitions could be a busy one and if this week was any indication there could be something new happening nearly everyday.
To this point, none of the moves made this week affect the North Stars' directly, but instead their opponents have made some moves and started to prepare for the 2011-12 season.
The one transaction announced Tuesday had a familiar name in it, as Justin Waskewitch was sent from the Estevan Bruins to the Nipawin Hawks to complete a trade made for Jonathan Ceci on Jan. 10, the SJHL trade deadline day.Waskewitch, the 1992-born forward from Cut Knife played with the Battlefords AAA Stars and was Battlefords North Stars product before being traded. Waskewitch had 10 goals and 22 assists in 51 games this season.
The Hawks also acquired Alex Laird from the Yorkton Terriers, which completed the Brant Remenda trade Laird played in the SMAAAHL and record 43 points in 44 games with Swift Current.
The Humboldt Broncos also completed a deal, which had future return to the Broncos from Yorkton. The Broncos acquired Clarke Breitkreuz and Robbie Ciolfi for Jeremy Boyer and Justin Buzzeo, who were traded in January. Breitkreuz had 68 points during the regular season while Ciolfi had 52 points in the regular season. Together the two former Teriers combined for 46 playoff points and game within a game of being SJHL champions. Humboldt officially takes the first step in building RBC Cup championship team, as Humboldt is set to host the tournament in a years time.
The Melville Millionaires were also busy this week, as they announced the completion of the trade for Cody Hanson and Brayden Metz to the Melfort Mustangs. The Mustangs sent Lee Christiansen, Sean Aschim, Jesse Mireau, the rights to Levi Cable and cash to Melville. Lane Schedle and Taylor Fauchoux were also sent from Melville to Melfort to complete the trade.
A week before the Mustangs completed this trade, they announced their new head coach and general manager would be Gavin Holcomb. Holcomb was an assistant with Bob Beatty, the back-to-back SJHL coach of the year with the La Ronge Ice Wolves.
Holcomb takes over for Darrell Mann, who's last game behind the Mustangs' bench was against La Ronge in the SJHL playoffs.
Holcomb was an assistant coach in La Ronge for three season, before taking his first head coaching job.
On the topic of coaches in the SJHL, it was announced last week that Beatty and Jamie Fiesel will coach Team West at the 2012 World Under 17 Hockey Challenge in Winnipeg Dec. 29 to Jan. 5.
Fiesel, the Millionaires general manager and head coach was a video coach and an assistant coach with at the Under 17 Challenge in previous years and was updated to head coach for the 2012 challenge.
Beatty, was an assistant coach last season and will once again hold the title of assistant coach with the team.
