The Power Dodge Estevan Bruins showed their collective offensive abilities for the assembled hockey scouts during the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League’s (SJHL) Showcase in Saskatoon.
The Black and Gold scored 14 times in two games during Showcase. The first game was an 8-6 loss to the Battlefords North Stars on Monday morning; the defeat came just two days after the Bruins defeated the defending Canalta Cup champion Stars 4-3 in overtime in North Battleford.
The Bruins held leads of 5-2 early in the second period and 6-5 after 40 minutes in Monday’s game, but three quick goals by North Battleford in the third sunk the Black and Gold.
Michael McChesney, Johnny Witzke, Raihan Kheraj, Kaelan Holt, Zach Goberis and Mark Edmands had the Bruins’ goals against the Stars.
Maxim Sidelnik made 16 saves in the loss.
Tuesday’s game against the La Ronge Ice Wolves was close early on, as the Bruins led just 1-0 after 20 minutes. But the Bruins outscored La Ronge 5-3 in the second to take a 6-3 lead through two periods, and added two more goals in the third to round out the scoring.
Goberis and McChesney both had hat tricks. Jake Heerspink and Hayden Guilderson also scored.
Matt Lukacs made 30 saves in the victory.
“I thought it was two very different opponents, and at the end of the day, I thought our guys showcased their skill and ability, and as a team, I thought we played well but imperfect,” said Bruins head coach and general manager Chris Lewgood.
He looks forward to facing the Stars three more times this season.
Showcase attracted a healthy contingent of scouts to the games. Lewgood said the number of scouts was comparable to last year.
The event is an opportunity for scouts from across North America to watch players in the SJHL. Third-year forward Kaelan Holt and second-year defenceman Johnny Witzke likely drew the most attention, Lewgood said, but other players also caught the scouts’ eyes.
“A pile of different guys had various scouts talking to them,” said Lewgood. “We probably waited for 30 minutes after games, waiting for players to load the bus, because multiple players were talking to different scouts.”
Other players had interest from scouts but didn’t have a chance to talk to them, he said.
Showcase also gave Lewgood the chance to see the other teams in the league for the first time. The Nipawin Hawks appear to have a strong team again this year, he said, with their size, mobility, aggression and commitment to team play.
“I didn’t have a chance to see Melfort, but I understand they played pretty well and have a lot of returning players,” Lewgood said of the Melfort Mustangs.
He also liked what he saw from the Flin Flon Bombers and the Humboldt Broncos.
There will be one more opportunity for some of the Bruins’ top players to demonstrate their skills for assembled scouts. The SJHL and the Manitoba Junior Hockey League (MJHL) are teaming up for a Showcase on Jan. 15 and 16, 2018, in Regina.
The top 60 NCAA-eligible players from each league will be divided into three teams to demonstrate their skills.
“The ones that do go will have a very good opportunity to showcase themselves to what I believe will be an even larger group of scouts, and as a result, it becomes just as important or even more than this one,” said Lewgood.
Lewgood said the timing of the event and the format will make the SJHL versus MJHL showcase a bigger draw. The players recognize it will be a prospects game rather than an all-star game.
“Our guys will be wanting to put their best foot forward and play hard, in front of a pretty captive audience of scouts who are there for a reason to see them specifically,” said Lewgood.
