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.
As the season nears for the SJHL, teams around the league have been busy with trades to strengthen their lineups for the upcoming year. With all of the action in the off-season, this year proves to be an interesting season with no clear-cut favorites. Here is a team-by-team look at the off season highlights from around the SJHL. Melfort The Mustangs have been busy trying to fill an obvious offensive void from last year. The additions of Casey Lee and Frankie Dicks go a long way in that regard. Full season from Rylan Gebhart, Adam Flick and Chad Richardson would also help. With goalie Brenden Cuthbert at the last line of defense, the Mustangs could be one of the most improved teams in the league. The cost at upgrading the forwards was losing key blueliner Kirk Medernach to the Red Wings. Battlefords It has been a relatively, quiet off-season for the Stars. They did move out forward Adam Houle to the AJHL. Houle played nine games in the SJHL after being released by the Saskatoon Blades of the WHL. But, due to office reasons, left the team. His permanent departure is not a major surprise. See 'Teams' P.# Con't from P.# An overage possibility is WHL (Medicine Hat) defenceman Mark Vodden, whose rights were obtained last November when the Stars traded forward Eric Schwabe to Estevan. Despite being a British Columbia native, Vodden has previous SJHL experience. Estevan The Bruins are in the midst of making several moves as they gear up for training camp. Goaltending wasn't expected to be an area of major concentration, but Justin Mrazek's scholarship to Union and Andrew Arlie's request for a trade changed that philosophy. Enter Juliano Pagliero from the Fort McMurray Oil Barons. Pagliero gives the Bruins an established Junior 'A' puckstopper entering his final year of eligibility. The addition of Clayton Anderson and the possible return of Ken Patzack from Moose Jaw (WHL) on the blueline adds to a corps that will be anchored by Chris Stubel. Numerous skilled forwards should also be a year better after some promising rookie campaigns in '03-04. Flin Flon A goaltender controversy has been avoided with Paul Reimer opting to accept a Division III scholarship to Manhattanville. That means Francois Laverdiere will play almost every night. The key offensive cogs are back with Joey Moggach and Andrew Skrabek expected to be among the SJHL's best. Rookie David Holinaty made an impression during a brief stint last year and is likely to be given every opportunity during training camp. Second year coach Ryan Hoffman has spent the summer in the midst of an aggressive recruiting campaign that has resulted in numerous list changes. Humboldt The Broncos made a coaching change, but they didn't look far for Bob Beatty's replacement. Upon Beatty's resignation, the Executive decided general manager/assistant coach Dean Brockman was ready to fulfill the big job after seven years in the organization. Kindersley The Royal Bank Cup finalists have a strong nucleus of returning players as well as a healthy group of new recruits heading to camp. Between the pipes, Jonathan Meyer replaces Nathan Deobald. Meyer, a former Swift Current Legionnaire, has played each of his first two junior seasons with the MJHL's OCN Blizzard. Nevertheless, hometown scoring product Casey Lee has been lost to the Melfort Mustangs as a result of a three team trade designed to repay the Weyburn Red Wings for the Deobald acquisition last summer. The Klippers also have a new man behind the bench and in the front office as Darren Kruger takes over from Dave Hunchak, who accepted an assistant role with the WHL's Swift Current Broncos. Kruger has been in the AJHL for the last four years, but this is his first head coaching assignment in the junior ranks. La Ronge Instant credibility has been restored to the Ice Wolves, who are a force with the experienced Bob Beatty running the program. Beatty is expected to change up the roster with his recruiting know-how and make the team a contender, pretty much immediately. With ten teams now eligible for the post-season, it would not be wise to suggest the Ice Wolves to be on the outside looking in. Forward Jeff Marshall is back for his final SJHL season and he ranks as one of the most complete players in the league. Beatty acquired rugged forward Tanner Shultz in an off season move that will likely net the tough guy in La Ronge provided that he doesn't crack the WHL's Saskatoon Blades. Melville The Mils are struck a blow this off season when Chad Haacke accepted a scholarship to Ferris State. Haacke was the early odds-on favorite to win the SJHL scoring title after he finished second in the race in 2003-04. Head coach Jamie Fiesel gets a full season to put his stamp on the team but he loses a good portion of last year's first place club as the likes of forwards Jordan Hack, Shawn Langen, and Matt Stefanishion as well as blueliners Zach Roe and Matt Bergen and goaltender Quinton Gauthier are gone. Potential WHL tryouts for rookie blueliner Derek Edwards and standout defenceman Dedrick Klassen threaten to deplete the roster further. A silver lining is a strong group of list players looking to make the jump, including Bret Haacke, the younger brother of last year's captain. Nipawin The Hawks were forced to deal disgruntled forward Jaydyn Murray this summer, but came away like thieves so long as Jonathan Lawrence arrives. Lawrence is expected to try his luck with the Brandon Wheat Kings when training camps open later this month. Nevertheless, Justin Magnusson is a solid two-way player and the future considerations may turn out to be another player down the road (directly or indirectly). Goalies Dan Bauer and Michael Clements have a full season of experience under their belt and the blueline boast several returnees as well. The Hawks, quietly, look like one of the stronger teams heading into training camp. Notre Dame The Hounds are pleased to turn out several scholarships; but also find themselves looking to fill some prominent holes on their roster as Rylan Kaip, Andrew Gordon, and Sasha Grenier-Pokulok have moved on. Hot rookie Ted Purcell has been protected in the USHL, casting doubt on his availability. But, Head Coach Rene Lemire has pulled out his share of surprises at training camp, with Purcell and Pokulok being two of them last year. Weyburn The Red Wings will host the Royal Bank Cup this season and everyone expects the Wings to walk to the Sherwood Conference championship. To this point, though, the only roster addition has been 20-year-old Kirk Medernach on the blueline. Medernach is cut from the mold of a Chris Pronger when comparing him to the SJHL talent. He is an excellent leader with great size and the ability to contribute offensively as well as being a top one-on-one performer. The loss of Frankie Dicks to the Mustangs in the Medernach trade is not expected to be a big one as GM Ron Rumball has been, reportedly, seen at several hockey camps across North America during the summer months. Yorkton The Terriers watch a good chunk of their offense go the way of graduation during the summer as the likes of Justin Keller, Trent Cassan and Josh Cudmore are gone. On the blueline, the top three of Andy Chipelski, Jason Beatty, and Evan Debert have also graduated. On the bright side, goalie Kevin Dziaduck established himself as one of the top Junior 'A' netminders in the country during the Royal Bank Cup. He is expected back with the Terriers provided his latest WHL venture in Moose Jaw doesn't pan out. Forward Lance Herauf is one of the top 20-year-old forwards in the league, and defenceman Brett McRuvie will be asked to step up his play and take on more of a leadership role on the back end. Behind the bench Ed Zawatsky is a rookie who inherits a team Don Chesney took to the conference finals in each of his two years at the helm.
