Power Rankings for the week ended Feb. 23:
1. Melfort Mustangs (37-7-3-6): Missed a chance to clinch first overall on the weekend.
2. Kindersley Klippers (36-11-3-3): Not likely to get the first seed, but still playing like it’s attainable.
3. Notre Dame Hounds (34-14-1-4): Aren’t a lock yet to be the fourth seed, but would be disappointing if they don’t get it.
4. Nipawin Hawks (32-15-2-4): Home and home against Melfort, finish on the road against Flin Flon in what will be the second most interesting week for two clubs (Hawks and Bombers).
5. Flin Flon Bombers (29-12-6-6):Home and home with La Ronge before the meeting with Nipawin. Bombers appear to have the leg up for the fifth seed (maybe fourth if things bounce their way).
6. Estevan Bruins (22-25-1-6): Totally obliterated by Notre Dame on Sunday, but the game was almost meaningless. Their season comes down to two games this weekend against Melville (most interesting week in the league for two clubs).
7. Battlefords North Stars (26-20-6-1): They’ve known they’ll be seventh for quite some time. They still don’t know who they will play. Melville, Estevan, Weyburn, Humboldt, or La Ronge. That’s a lot of choices with just one week to go.
8. La Ronge Ice Wolves (20-26-3-5): Odds aren’t in their favour, but they have put up a valiant fight in the month of February.
9. Humboldt Broncos (22-24-5-2): Could have cemented the eighth seed, but they’ve stumbled with five straight losses.
10. Weyburn Red Wings (21-24-6-2): They should make the playoffs, but three pretty tough games to close it out (Battlefords, Kindersley, Humboldt).
11. Melville Millionaires (24-26-2-2): Dropped four straight, three of which were against teams lower in the standings and now they MUST win (in regulation) one of the two left against Estevan to get the third seed or they will be a Survivor Series participant.
12. Yorkton Terriers (17-31-3-3): Wind up banquet will be Thursday and the season will be over this weekend after two very long and successful years.
Who’s hot?
Jason Duret, Estevan (5-3-7-10): Has stepped up, along with Taylor Ross, to give the Bruins reliable secondary scoring down the stretch.
Sam Aulie, Notre Dame (6-8-3-11): Primed to be a big-time playoff performer. He could be difficult for a team to match up with.
Ian Williams, Notre Dame (6-3-8-11). Breakout game on Sunday has aided a consistent effort this month.
Travis Mayan, Melfort (7-6-7-13): Has salted away the scoring title with a stellar two and a half weeks.
Zach Zadorozniak, Yorkton (9-2-7-9): It often takes players who don’t play Midget AAA a longer period of adjustment. Zadorozniak is primed to be a breakout candidate as a 20-year-old.
Richard Palmer, Melfort (5-0-0-2, 0.98, .959, 2SO): Seriously??
Alexi Thibaudeau, Notre Dame (5-0-0-1, 1.64, .929, 1SO): He’s going to figure prominently in the playoffs.
Adam Beukeboom, Flin Flon (2-0, 1.56, .955, 1SO):Six weeks in between full games and not a hint of rust to be found.
Carson Bogdan, Yorkton (1-2, 1.55, .957, 1SO): Maybe the biggest injustice of the season was Bogdan stuck in the PJHL.
