Nine Bombers have returned to the north following this week's SJHL-MJHL Showcase in Winnipeg.
Playing on two of the league's three representative teams, those Bombers took part in a two-day representative event, meant to get more scouts' and college recruiters' eyes on regional junior A talent.
In terms of total stats, Alexi Sylvestre had the best performance of any Bomber skater, scoring twice and adding an assist in the two games played by his SJHL Team Blue. Game one for Sylvestre saw him hit an MJHL player in the corner, pick up a loose puck and fire a pass to the point, where Battlefords' Jordan Grill would take a shot that would be tipped in by Melfort's Zac Somers. That goal would make a big difference, as Team Blue would beat MJHL's Team White 5-4 in their first game.
Game two saw Sylvestre score twice less than five minutes apart. Goal one saw him pop a backhander past MJHL keeper Ethan Farrow - a goalie who was in training camp with the Bombers and made the team at first before being dealt to OCN. Moments later, Sylvestre beat Farrow clean with a mid-distance wrister. Those two goals helped spur Team Blue to an 8-2 victory.
Cole Tanchuk, also playing for Team Blue, picked up an assist, while Liam Bridger, the third Bomber on the squad, was held off the scoresheet. Bomber head coach and general manager and equipment manager Jason "J-Roc" Savill each were on the bench for Team Blue.
Team White
Seven Bombers were named to Team White, one of the SJHL's two under-20 representative teams, but the team didn't have much of an impact on the scoresheet.
Playing for Team White, Jeremi Tremblay put in one goal during his two games, scoring a powerplay goal three minutes into the second game, firing a shot from the faceoff dot, following up and potting his own rebound.
Bombers Zach Cain, Cole Duperreault, Jacob Vockler and Reece Richmond were each unable to pot any points. Jaeden Mercier was listed as being on Team White, but his foot injury prevented him from being able to play.
Harmon Laser-Hume played one game for Team White, their second game against MJHL Team Red Feb. 1, ending in a 4-2 loss. Despite getting saddled with the L, Laser-Hume made a whopping 48 saves in 56:38 in the crease. Laser-Hume faced more shots than any other goalie at the showcase.
By the end of the event, the SJHL had won four of the six games at the showcase, with both losses going to Team White - first being beaten 4-0 by MJHL Team Black Jan. 31, then losing 4-2 the next day with Laser-Hume in goal. Team White was coached by Humboldt bench boss Scott Barney, with La Ronge's Kevin Kaminski serving as assistant.
All in all, some unexpected players led all teams on offence. Humboldt's Tim Kim ended the two-game set with a pair of goals and two assists, leading all players in scoring, while four Battlefords North Stars - Jackson Allan, Kian Bell, Holden Doell and Steven Kesslering - had three points in their matchups. Former Bomber Jaxon Martens had a goal and two assists for SJHL Team Gold.
With the whole gang back up north, the Bombers will be back in action at the Whitney Forum Feb. 4 against the Nipawin Hawks.
