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.
All 12 teams in the SJHL are involved in playoff races to varying degrees and that was evident with the moves made over the weekend as the January 10th trade deadline came and went. The Battlefords North Stars made the first big splash on Saturday, by acquiring 1989 F Chad Filteau (Regina SK) from the Estevan Bruins. Filteau has 16 goals and 30 assists in 37 games. He, immediately, becomes the team's leading scorer and will be counted on heavily down the stretch, along with Brett Miller, who was reassigned from the Western Hockey League. The Stars also had an eye on the future when they made the trade, getting 1992 F Kyle Hall (Assiniboia SK). The Bruins get 1990 F Ryan Andersen (Wainright AB), 1992 F Justin Waskewitch (Cut Knife SK), and the rights to 1991 D Koltyn Miller (Redvers SK). Andersen provides the team with some scoring for the present, while Waskewitch is another highly skilled player that will get more of an opportunity to showcase his ability immediately. He has three more years of junior eligibility. Miller, to this point, has opted against playing junior hockey this year; but remains a tremendous talent and could make this a major coup for the Bruins if he decides to play in the future. With Derek Tendler gone to the WHL, Bruin coach Karry Biette scrambled and landed 1991 G Alex Sirard from the Camrose Kodiaks. He'll back up Chris Neamonitis. The Bruins moved 1989 D Philippe St. Laurent to the MJHL's Swan Valley Stampeders for futures. The Yorkton Terriers hope they've solved a season long offensive funk by dealing for a trio of forwards. The most significant acquisition may be 1989 F Troy Smukowich (Winnipeg MB) from the Winnipeg South Blues of the MJHL. He had 48 points in 42 games and was just outside the top fifteen in league scoring. The Terriers give up futures. They also added 1989 F Ryan Griffiths (Arvada CO) from the MJHL's Swan Valley Stampeders for futures. Griffiths started the year like a house on fire with 17 goals and 31 points in 30 games with the Steinbach Pistons. He was traded to the Stamps and found himself further down the depth chart, collecting one goal and four assists in 14 games. It's hoped he'll regain his touch playing in a favorable situation with Yorkton. Perhaps the most intriguing pick up by Yorkton was that of 1989 F Kyle Miller (Rabbit Lake SK) from the La Ronge Ice Wolves for futures. Miller had 26 points and over 160 penalty minutes in 52 games with the AJHL's Camrose Kodiaks last year. He opted against playing this year, following a preseason deal between Camrose and La Ronge. He indicated over Christmas he was getting the itch to play and could evolve into one of the SJHL's top power forwards. Looking ahead to the future, the Terriers picked up the CJHL rights to 1991 F Robbie Ciolfi from the Drayton Valley Thunder for 1991 F Matt Chomyc and futures. Ciolfi is in the WHL with the Seattle Thunderbirds. The Flin Flon Bombers got impact forward Deven Stillar (Sudbury ON) from the Melfort Mustangs just moments before the deadline struck. Stillar has 15 goals and 27 assists in 33 games. He rejoins former midget teammates Denis Restoule and Mathieu Lecours. Together they won a Telus Cup two seasons ago. In return, the Mustangs get future considerations as well as the underrated Darren Gillen (Saskatoon SK). Gillen, with limited ice time, had three assists in 28 games. The former Saskatoon Blazers captain had 15 goals and 28 helpers in 43 games in his last season of Midget AAA. In another move, the Bombers got 1990 F Corey Tyrel (Airdrie AB) from the AJHL's Drumheller Dragons for Derek Ginnell and future considerations. They also picked up 1989 G Mathieu Larochelle from Humboldt for futures. Larochelle suffered an injury early in the year and, to this point, has indicated he is retired. He's not expected to play. Melfort also secured 1990 D Josh Martin (Calgary AB) from the Winkler Flyers for futures. The Melville Millionaires hoped they shored up their goaltending situation by getting 1989 G Dezsi Wiens (Winnipeg MB) from the Waywayseecappo Wolverines. Wiens is a former participant in the CJHL Top Prospects Game. The Mils also brought home 1991 D Tyson Newell (Prince Albert SK) from the Wolverines. Newell left the province after his career with the Prince Albert Mintos to play for the RBC Cup host Dauphin Kings this year. In return, Melville gave up 1990 G Chris Jackson and 1991 D Bobby Janzen. Melville, who lead the Sherwood Conference in offense, made another curious move by snagging 1989 F Colton Kennedy (Kenora ON) from the Fort Frances Lakers of the SIJHL for 1991 D Sean Gallagher and future considerations. Kennedy had 50 points in 32 games with the Lakers and was fourth in the league in scoring. The Humboldt Broncos, struggling on offense all season, took a step towards rectifying that situation by acquiring 1989 F Kirk Belyk (Saskatoon SK) from the Bonnyville Pontiacs for 1989 F Dane Lindskog and future considerations. Kindersley found a home for disgruntled 1989 D Justin Perreaux (Brandon MB), dealing him to the MJHL's Portage Terriers for 1990 D Cameron Canart and future considerations. Canart, in addition to having experience with an MJHL championship club, had four assists in 18 games this season.
