The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
The Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League is proud to announce two finalists for the SJHL Coach Of The Year Award. The winner will be decided by SJHL media. Ballots have already gone out. Dean Brockman, Humboldt Broncos Brockman has his Humboldt Broncos in position to seriously challenge for a third straight SJHL championship. He's the only back to back winner of the SJHL Coach Of The Year Award, having won in 2007 and 2008. This would be an unprecedented third straight win should he be victorious. Over the course of the last three seasons, Brockman's Broncos have gone a combined 131-28-and-7 (as of February 3, 2009). Brockman has managed to keep his team, head and shoulders, above the rest of the league despite dealing with last year's losses of record setting goaltender Taylor Nelson, as well as top line forwards Jordan Schindel (who was the playoff MVP), Laurent Benjamin, and Brayden Klimosko, as well as key contributors Ed Gale, Josh Garneau, and Justin Stoski. The defense has been rebuilt without the likes of former captain Russ Nielsen, Voldy Dashko, Matthew Rintoul and the necessitated trade of Mitch Stretch. This year, Brockman put his faith in Andrew Bodnarchuk, an 18-year-old, to lead his netminding equation. Defenseman Brady Wacker has enjoyed a season for the ages, challenging for an SJHL scoring title. The development curve for 20-year-olds Matthew Kirzinger, Scott and Steven Schroeder, Tory Allan, and Tanner Vandesype (among others) has been remarkable. Brockman has proven he knows how to communicate with his players and get maximum potential out of each one. His calm, cool demeanor behind the bench often results in his players exuding control and discipline during games, which means few penalties and infrequent mistakes. He has also kept a keen eye towards the future as players like Bodnarchuk, Mathieu Larochelle, Mitchell Peeke, Kyle Cowan, Dane Lindskog, Shawn Hunter, and Spencer Braaten continue to give hope the Broncos will be near the top of the league for a fourth straight season 2009-10. Jamie Fiesel, Melville Millionaires At the start of the season, there were more than a few close SJHL observers who figured the Millionaires would be closer to the Sherwood Conference basement than the Sherwood Conference penthouse. Following a 17-2-and-2 start, those same observers found themselves eating crow as the Mils have managed to either be in first place or flirt with top spot right since the first night of the year. Holes developed from last year as goalie Joe Rodwell opted for university, and the graduation of long time defenseman Derek Edwards as well as forwards Dion Campbell, Brad Johnston, Bryant Dyke, Jordan Wilson, Chris Shudo, Scott Hennings (and others). Fiesel deserves a lot of credit for spotting talent and getting maximum value out of the likes of 1988 G Travis Bosch, a Junior 'B' rookie promoted to the back-up role last season before getting turned into the SJHL's busiest netminder in his 20-year-old campaign. Despite playing in a very small market, Fiesel has cultivated positive relationships with the Western Hockey League, leading to the recruitment of Levi Lind, Cody Hanson, Kelly Friesen, and Brayden Metz. Of those players, only Lind was being counted on for this year. Fiesel has also been a master of getting the most out of his project players, with this year's best example being Tyler Murray. Murray missed a year and a half because of injuries, but has given the Mils point-per-game production all season. A players' coach who isn't afraid to think outside the box, Fiesel sometimes employs a rare five-forward powerplay. Like Brockman, Fiesel never mortgages his future for the present. With the likes of Aaron DeCorby, Logan Herauf, Matt Kinnunen, Hanson, Metz, Jordan Reeve, and Austin Krahenbil all eligible to return, Melville fans should be confident they'll see a competitive team again next season.
