The Battlefords North Stars goaltending logjam has been solidified as the Saskatchwean Junior Hockey League team parted ways with netminder Ryan Rewerts.
A deal was in place to move Rewerts to the Valley Wildcats of the Maritime Hockey League but the 20-year-old has elected not to report to the Nova Scotia team.
The Cut Knife, Sask. native was in his third full season with the North Stars and had a 0-2-0 record with a 4.23 goals against average this year.
His best season came in the 2015-16 campaign when he had a 20-7-0 record with a 2.69 golas against average and three shutouts.
The North Stars now have two netminders on the roster in returning goaltender Taryn Kotchorek and rookie Joel Grzybowski.
Delainey and Grzybowski honoured
North Stars forward Reed Delainey and goaltender Joel Grzybowski were rewarded for their efforts last week by the SJHL.
Delainey was named the league’s player of the week for the period ending Sept. 25 after he had three goals and three assists in four games.
Grzybowski earned goaltender of the week honours following a pair of wins, including a shutout against the Melfort Mustangs Sunday.
The Notre Dame Hounds won the other two awards as Tyler Podkorenko was named defenceman of the week and rookie of the week accolades went to Adam Dawe.
Wednesday’s SJHL recap
The league’s annual showcase event in Warman concluded with a pair of shutouts and the first victory of the season for the Nipawin Hawks.
Kristian Stead stopped all 45 shots he faced as he helped the Hawks enter the win column with a 4-0 shutout over the Notre Dame Hounds.
Jake Gerbner had two goals in the victory while Brett Harasymuk and Keegan Kjargaard both had a goal and an assist.
The last game of the day also ended in a 4-0 shutout as Justen Close made 25 saves to earn his first career shutout for the Kindersley Klippers as they defeated the La Ronge Ice Wolves.
Drayton Thunder Chief led the way up front for the Klippers with a pair of goals.
Tuesday’s SJHL recap
Flin Flon Bombers forward Dondre Watson continued his red-hot start to the season by potting a hat-trick in a 6-5 overtime win over the Yorkton Terriers.
Watson, who has eight goals in six games after coming over the AJHL’s Spruce Grove Saints in the summer, scored the game-winning goal at the 2:27 mark of the extra frame.
Tyler Baier was impressive on the blueline for the Terriers as he scored twice and had an assist in the loss.
Weyburn Red Wings netminder Nathan Hargrave was stellar on Tuesday as he stopped all 40 shots he faced in a 1-0 victory over the Kindersley Klippers.
Hargrave, who was acquired from the Klippers during the off-season, has a 3-1-0-1 record so far this year with a 1.18 goals against average.
Cole Woodliffe had the lone goal for the Red Wings midway through the first period.
A shorthanded goal 57 seconds into the game by Jason Miller set the tone for the Estevan Bruins as they defeated the Melfort Mustangs by a score of 5-2.
Mark Edmands, Matt McNeil, Josh Rieger and Jake Fletcher had the other goals for the Bruins. Jaxon Joseph found the back of the net twice for the Mustangs.
The Notre Dame Hounds had a spread out offensive attack in their 4-2 victory over the La Ronge Ice Wolves.
Adam Dawe, Jacob Cardiff and Tyler Podgorenko all had a goal and an assist each for the Hounds.
SJHL Standings (as of Thursday)
Finning Division
- Humboldt Broncos – 5-1-0-0 – 10 points
- Battlefords North Stars – 4-3-0-0 – 8 points
- Notre Dame Hounds – 3-4-0-0 – 6 points
- Kindersley Klippers – 2-3-0-0 – 4 points
Sherwood Division
- Flin Flon Bombers – 4-1-1-0 – 9 points
- Melfort Mustangs – 3-3-0-0 – 6 points
- Nipawin Hawks – 1-2-2-0 – 4 points
- La Ronge Ice Wolves – 1-5-0-0 – 2 points
Viterra Division
- Estevan Bruins – 4-1-0-1 – 9 points
- Weyburn Red Wings – 4-1-0-1 – 9 points
- Melville Millionaires – 3-3-0-0 – 6 points
- Yorkton Terriers – 2-2-2-0 – 6 points
Friday’s SJHL schedule
- Melville vs. Flin Flon – 6:30 p.m.
- Humboldt vs. Melfort – 7:30 p.m.
- La Ronge vs. Nipawin – 7:30 p.m.
- Estevan vs. Weyburn – 7:30 p.m.
