SJHL's Melville Millionaires name Devin Windle as their new Head Coach/GM

After a month long search, the Melville Millionaires have finally found their guy.

The SJHL club announced at a news conference at the Horizon Credit Union Center on Tuesday night,  the hiring of Devin Windle (pictured above) as their new Head Coach & General Manager & also signed him to a 3 year contract.

"It was a long but smooth process, we had about 50 or so applicants and  the hardest thing was trying to windle those down but when the interview process started it was no-brainer on the decision", Mils President Dawn Melnychuk told reporters after the news conference.

The 28 year old Calgary, Albert product spent the last 2 seasons behind the bench of the SJHL's Nipawin Hawks as an Assistant Coach under Hawks Head Coach/GM Doug Johnson.

Before that, Windle spent a few years coaching Midget AAA in Alberta.

"I had the chance to spend 2 great years in Nipawin, and I got the opportunity to see what the SJHL is all about and when this job came up I thought it would be a good chance for me to take the next step and become a bigger part of the league", Windle told reporters.

Windle expressed how excited he is for the opportunity, "Obviously its a challenge you don't go from last to first place over night, but I'm excited there is some good pieces here and just the tradition and the support this city gives to the hockey club, I'm looking forward to being part of that"

Windle takes over behind the Mils bench, after the contract of longtime Head Coach/GM Jamie Fiesel was not renewed last month.

Windless first order of business with his new job will be attending the league's annual general meeting's this weekend and take part in the SJHL Draft which takes place on Thursday with the Mils holding the number 1 overall selection.

(Windle with Mils President Dawn Melnychuk) 

Chat with Mils President Dawn Melnychuk



Chat with newly named Mils Head Coach/GM Devin Windle



------------------------------

In other Mils news, the Melville Millionaires won't have one of their 20 year old pieces back for the 2016/17 season.

The Comox, BC native has decided to fore-go his 20 year old season and stay closer to home suiting up with the University of Victoria Vikes for the upcoming season.

Shaw had 15 goals and 12 assists for 27 points in 54 games with the Mils this past season

Wayway; Swan Valley announce Auto-Protects ahead of Sunday's MJHL Draft

The 2016 Manitoba Junior Hockey League Draft will take place on Sunday in Selkirk, Manitoba.

The Draft will take place at 9AM MB time.

Also ahead of the draft, the teams are allowed to auto-protect 2 local players.


Swan Valley Stampeders


D Jackson Betcher- Swan River, Manitoba

9 Goals 29 assists for 32 points in 35 games with Parkland Bantam AAA Rangers.

F Carter Cockburn- Swan River, Manitoba

39 goals, 24 assists for 63 points in 36 games for the Parkland Bantam AAA Rangers

Wayway Wolverines


Chad Nychuk- Rossburn, Manitoba
9 Goals, 33 assists for 42 points in 36 games with the Yellowhead Bantam AAA Chiefs

Logan Wotton- Foxwarren, Manitoba

12 goals, 19 assists for 31 points in 34 games with the Yellowhead Bantam AAA Chiefs

Cards use big 7th inning to comeback for weekend split with Melville

After a 3-1 loss on Saturday night, the Yorkton Cardinals used a 5 run 7th inning to comeback and defeat their Highway 10 rivals, the Melville Millionaires 6-4 on Sunday night at Jubilee Park.

Garret Kizer (pictured above) led the way offensively for the Cards with 2 hits while Justin Johnston came in for relief and threw 6 innings of 5 hit ball to grab the win on the mound.

Hunter Seales was 3 for 5 at the dish to lead the way for the Millionaires.

Yorkton and Melville both return to the field tomorrow night (Tues) as the Cards will be in the Queen City to take on the Regina Red Sox while the Mils will host the Swift Currents at Pirie Field.

Welch shines for Melville as Mils down Cards in WMBL Season Opener

The Western Major Baseball League got underway on Saturday night which included a Highway 10 Battle in Melville.

Frisco, Texas product Blake Welch (pictured above) threw 8 solid innings of 3 hit ball, while striking out 7 while Braden Alleman, Isaiah Snyder and Cameron Boudreaux all doubled to lead the Melville Millionaires to a 3-1 win over the visiting Yorkton Cardinals at Pirie Field.

Canora product and Cardinals starter Kody Rock was also solid in the loss carrying a perfect game into the Bottom of the 6th and ended up going 6 2/3 innings allowing 2 runs on 4 hits while striking out 6.

These two teams will play the back end of their season opening home and home series on Sunday night at Jubilee Park at 7:05.

2016 WMBL Season Previews with Yorkton Cardinals & Melville Millionaires

The Melville Millionaires and Yorkton Cardinals kick off their 2016 Western Major Baseball League seasons this Saturday and Sunday with a home & home series with each other.

The Mils host the Cards on Saturday at 7:05 from Pirie Field in Melville while two teams then meet at 7:05PM on Sunday at Jubilee Park in Yorkton.

I caught up both coaches of their respective teams to preview the season:

                                            Yorkton Cardinals Head Coach Bryn Biancalana

                                              Melville Millionaires Head Coach Bryant Mistler

2016 East Central District Track & Field Championships Results

SENIOR BOYS

Aggregate Winner: Landon Rayner (Norquay)

100m
1) Jaret Porte- Yorkton
2) Colin Tulloch- Kamsack
3) Ethan St.Marsh- Canora

200m
1) Jaret Porte- Yorkton Regional
2) Jonah Sutter- Sacred Heart
3) Ethan St. Marsh- Canora

400m
1) Derek Campbell- Yorkton Regional
2) Zach Kostersky- Sacred Heart
3) Matt Turnbull- Melville

800m
1) TJ McBride- Yorkton Regional
2) Zach Kostersky- Sacred Heart
3) Dale Weinbender- Canora

1500m
1) TJ McBride- Yorkton Regional
2) Derek Campbell- Yorkton Regional
3) Ben Fetsch- Sacred Heart

3000m
1) TJ McBride- Yorkton Regional
2) Derek Campbell- Yorkton Regional
3) Perry Erhardt- Esterhazy

Hurdles
1) Colin Tulloch- Kamsack
2) Ben Kuang- Canora
3) Evan LaJambe- Sacred Heart

High Jump
1) Josiah Sorgen- Preeceville
2) Landon Rayner- Norquay
3) Colby Entz- Churchbridge

Long Jump
1) Jonah Sutter- Sacred Heart
2) Colin Tulloch- Kamsack
3) Jared Yeadon- Melville


Triple Jump
1) Jared Yeadon- Melville
2) Colin Tulloch- Kamsack
3) Derek Campbell- Yorkton

Shot Put
1) Matthew Zalys-Smeretsky—Yorkton Regional
2) Landon Rayner- Norquay
3) Cody Dubas- Invermay

Discus
1) Landon Rayner- Norquay
2) Matthew Zalys- Smeretsky—Yorkton Regional
3) Ron Lee- Esterhazy

Javelin
1) Landon Rayner- Norquay
2) Cody Dubas- Invermay
3) Daniel Fiske- Esterhazy

Pole Vault
1) Evan Lajambe- Sacred Heart
2) Brodie Ottenbreit- Yorkton Regional
3) Ben Fetsch- Sacred Heart

SENIOR GIRLS

Aggregate Winner: Kelsey Haczkewicz

100m
1) Jessica Lutz- Yorkton Regional
2) Madison Butchko- Sacred Heart
3) Olivia Tomcala- Yorkton Regional

200m
1) Kelsey Haczkewicz- Yorkton Regional
2) Jessica Lutz- Yorkton Regional
3) Madison Butchko- Sacred Heart

400m
1) Kelsey Haczkewicz- Yorkton Regional
2) Kelli Onda-Inglis—Yorkton Regional
3) Justine Zarowny- Sacred Heart

800m
1) Kelsey Haczkewicz- Yorkton Regional
2) Kelli Onda-Inglis—Yorkton Regional
3) Justine Zarowny- Sacred Heart


1500m
1) Kelsey Haczkewicz- Yorkton Regional
2) Alex Flaman- Yorkton Regional
3) Justine Zarowny- Sacred Heart

3000m
1) Alex Flaman-Yorkton Regional
2) Justine Zarowny- Sacred Heart
3) Madison Tocher- Esterhazy

Hurdles
1) Madison Butchko- Sacred Heart
2) Rhianna Olson- Sturgis
3) Alexa Bilokraly- Invermay

High Jump
1) Jennifer Haczkewicz- Yorkton Regional
2) Karlee Duczek- Melville
3) Morgan Yont- Langenburg

Long Jump
1) Olivia Tomcala- Yorkton
2) Jessica Lutz- Yorkton
3) Rhianna Olson- Sturgis

Triple Jump
1) Sean Thompson- Yorkton Regional
2) Morgan Yont- Langenburg
3) Karlee Duczek- Melville

Shot Put
1) Linda Toth- Yorkton Regional
2) McKenzie Stachura- Yorkton Regional
3) Hannah Grodecki- Melville

Discus
1) Linda Toth- Yorkton Regional
2) Hannah Grodecki- Melville
3) McKenzie Stachura- Yorkton Regional

Javelin
1) Olivia Tomcala- Yorkton Regional
2) Hannah Grodecki- Melville
3) Nicole Tureski- Sturgis

Pole Vault
1) Kelli Onda-Inglis—Yorkton Regional
2) Alex Flamn- Yorkton Regional


JUNIOR BOYS

Aggregate Winner: Matthew Mandziuk & Austin Auchstaetter
100m
1) Matthew Mandziuk- Yorkton Regional
2), Tyler Pryhitka- Melville
3) Arthrine Pasaporte- Norquay

200m
1) Matthew Mandziuk- Yorkton Regional
2) Nick Sherman- Sacred Heart
3) Josh Soke- Yorkton Regional

400m
1) Austin Auchstaetter- Norquay
2) Nick Sherman- Sacred Heart
3) Arthrine Pasaporte- Norquay

800m
1) Austin Auchstaetter- Norquay
2) Blake Coleman- Melville
3)

1500m
1) Logan Statchuk- Canora
2)
3)


Hurdles
1) Cole Kowalchuk- Sturgis
2)
3)

High Jump
1) Ben Schick- Melville
2) Grady Hawkins- Sacred Heart
3) Dreyden Waldbauer- Yorkton Regional

Long Jump
1) Matthew Mandziuk- Yorkton Regional
2) Grady Hawkins- Sacred Heart
3) Austin Auchstaetter- Norquay


Triple Jump
1) Brandon Dyky- Preecville
2) Jayden Kuzek- Esterhazy
3)

Shot Put
1) Levi Minhinik- Invermay
2) Avery Dunster- Esterhazy
3) Connor Novak- Preeceville

Discus
1) Avery Dunster- Esterhazy
2) Tyler Shankowsky- Norquay
3) Connor Novak- Preeceville

Javelin
1) Levi Minhinik- Invermay
2) Montana Johnson- Sacred Heart
3) Avery Dunster- Esterhazy



JUNIOR GIRLS

Aggregate Winner: Katie Wileman & Deanna Kitzul
100m
1) Emma Pindus- Sacred Heart
2) Katie Wileman- Langenburg
3) Ashlyn Hawcutt- Esterhazy

200m
1) Emma Pindus- Sacred Heart
2) Katie Wileman- Langenburg
3) Ashlyn Hawcutt- Esterhazy

400m
1) Brittany Varga- Esterhazy
2) Renee Marchand- Esterhazy
3) Caitlyn Mann- Melville

800m
1) Brittany Varga- Esterhazy
2) Therese Olijnyk- Melville
3) Maija Rousseau- Kamsack

1500m
1) Caitlyn Mann- Melville
2) Brittany Varga- Esterhazy
3) Maija Rousseau- Kamsack

3000m
1) Caitlyn Mann- Melville
2) Renee Marchand- Esterhazy
3)


High Jump
1) Sarah Sutter- Sacred Heart
2) Therese Olijnyk- Melville
3) Shayna Dubas- Invermay

Long Jump
1) Sarah Sutter- Sacred Heart
2) Emma Pindus- Sacred Heart
3) Shayna Dubas- Invermay

Triple Jump
1) Katie Wileman- Langenburg
2) Kyra Schmidt- Langenburg
3) Shayna Dubas- Invermay

Shot Put
1) Akilah Babyak- Esterhazy
2) Deanna Kitzul- Yorkton Regional
3) Megan Steranka- Invermay

Discus
1) Deanna Kitzul- Yorkton Regional
2) Kaeleigh Folk- Sturgis
3) Akilah Babyak- Esterhazy

Javelin
1) Megan Steranka- Invermay
2) Deanna Kitzul- Yorkton Regional
3) Cassidy Entz- Churchbridge



MIDGET BOYS


Aggregate Winner: Drew Kirk
100m
1) Dami Ogunbiyi- Sacred Heart
2) Drew Kirk- Langenburg
3) Ethan Bewcyk- Churchbridge

200m
1) Dami Ogunbiyi- Sacred Heart
2) Drew Kirk- Langenburg
3) Tyler Carriere- Esterhazy

400m
1) Koule Dejarlais- Norquay
2) Ethan Bewcyk- Churchbridge
3) Jaxon McLeod- Sacred Heart

800m
1) Tasso Stamatinos- Yorkton Regional
2) Jackson Hemauer- Langenburg
3) Jaxon Mcleod- Sacred Heart

1500m
1) Carson Sveinbjornson- Yorkton
2) Koule Dejarlais- Norquay
3) Marty Haubrich- Esterhazy

3000m
1) Carson Sveinbjornson- Yorkton
2) Jaxon McLeod- Sacred Heart
3) Kaleb Weinheimer- Yorkton Regional

Hurdles
1) Braydon Serron- Invermay
2)
3)

High Jump
1) Drew Kirk- Langenburg
2) Ryan Kraushaar- Grayson
3) Hunter Lutz- Melville

Long Jump
1) Drew Kirk- Langenburg
2) Gavin Oystrick- Yorkton Regional
3) Jake Huska- Preeceville


Triple Jump
1) Gavin Oystrick- Yorkton Regional
2) Sean Peligan- Preeceville
3) Kelvin Harris- Yorkton Regional  

Shot Put
1) John McDonell- Langenburg
2) Cole Rubletz- Norquay
3) Dami Ogunbiyi- Sacred Heart

Discus
1) Jake Huska- Preeceville
2) Ryan Kraushaar- Grayson
3) Austin Derbowka- Yorkton Regional

Javelin
1) Koule Dejarlais- Norquay
2) Sam Burton- Langenburg
3) Felix Wapas- Keeseekoose

Pole Vault
1) Kelvin Harris- Yorkton Regional

MIDGET GIRLS

Aggregate Winner: Jennaya Kreklewich
100m
1) Jennaya Kreklewich- Melville
2) Katya Anderson- Yorkton Regional
3) Kiara Lutz- Yorkton Regional

200m
1) Jennaya Kreklewich- Melville
2) Hannah Pennell- Kamsack
3) Katya Anderson- Yorkton Regional

400m
1) Kaitlyn Sauser- Churchbridge
2) Paige Novakowski- Yorkton Regional
3) Charis Adefolarin- Sacred Heart

800m
1) Sarah Novakowski- Yorkton Regional
2) Paige Novakowski- Yorkton Regional
3) Kaitlyn Klemetski- Sacred Heart

1500m
1) Sarah Novakowski- Yorkton Regional
2) Kaila Haas- Yorkton Regional
3) Kaitlyn Klemetski- Sacred Heart


3000m
1) Sarah Novakowski- Yorkton Regional
2) Kaitlyn Klemetski- Sacred Heart
3) Kaila Haas- Yorkton Regional

Hurdles
1) Ellyshia Enge- Invermay
2) Rebecca Hort- Canora
3) Tamara Butchko- Sacred Heart

High Jump
1) Arianna Remus- Langenburg
2) Ellyshia Enge- Invermay
3) Natasha Fey- Invermay

Long Jump
1) Jennaya Kreklewich- Melville
2) Katya Anderson- Yorkton Regional
3) Ashley Schrader- Sacred Heart

Triple Jump
1) Katya Anderson- Yorkton Regional
2) Jennaya Kreklewich- Melville
3) Arianna Remus- Langenburg

Shot Put
1) McKenna Davis- Esterhazy
2) Sierra Meroniuk- Sturgis
3) Thea Valstar- Yorkton Regional

Discus
1) Amber Nicholauson- Esterhazy
2) Natasha Fey- Invermay
3) Kelly Cole- Yorkton Regional

Javelin
1) Annika Lachambre- Kamsack
2) Felicity Myodonick- Canora
3) Ashley Schrader- Sacred Heart

Pole Vault
1) Bryn Nystom- Yorkton Regional
2) Emily Hansen- Yorkton Regional

BANTAM BOYS

Aggregate Winner: Jackson Berezowski & Josh Peppler
100m
1) Willen Paligan- Preeceville
2) Josh Peppler- Langenburg
3) Garrett Veer- Melville


200m
1) Josh Peppler- Langeburg
2) Willen Paligan- Preeceville
3) Jackson Berezowski- Yorkton

400m
1) Jackson Berezowski- Yorkton
2) Josh Peppler- Langenburg
3) Austin Dycer- Yorkton

800m
1) Jackson Berezowski- Yorkton
2) Josh Peppler- Langenburg
3) Anthony Roebuck- Yorkton

1500m
1) Anthony Roebuck- Yorkton
2) Sean Easton- Yorkton
3) Xavier Perpetua- Melville

3000m
1) Anthony Roebuck- Yorkton
2) Sean Easton- Yorkton
3) Dylan Ringdal- Yorkton

Hurdles
1) Tristan Maier- Invermay
2) Ivan Fidek- Invermay

High Jump
1) Michael Andrew- Langenburg
2) Nicholas Nesseth- Yorkton
3) Dylan Shire- Esterhazy

Long Jump
1) Michael Andrew- Langenburg
2) Willen Paligan- Preeceville
3) Kishaun Gervais- Keeseekoose

Triple Jump
1) Jarrus Pellat- Yorkton
2) Michael Andrew- Langenburg
3) Matthew Hartung- Langenburg

Shot Put
1) Brad Heskin- Yorkton
2) Evan Matatall- Yorkton
3) Dawson Jepson- Esterhazy

Discus
1) Kaeden Koroluk- Yorkton
2) Jackson Berezowski- Yorkton
3) Tristen Maier- Invermay

Javelin
1) Kaeden Koroluk- Yorkton
2) Kaleb Delorme- Melville
3) Kade Wishnevetski- Kamsack


BANTAM GIRLS

Aggregate Winner: Chace Sperling
100m
1) Kierra Napady- Melville
2) Chace Sperling- Yorkton
3) Aubrei Diaz- Yorkton

200m
1) Chace Sperling- Yorkton
2) Kelsey Shiels- Melville
3) Kiara Wiechert- Esterhazy

400m
1) Zoe Flaman- Yorkton
2) Chace Sperling- Yorkton
3) Rebecca Keltie- Yorkton

800m
1) Zoe Flaman- Yorkton
2) Kara High- Canora
3) Leah Jones- Yorkton

1500m
1) Zoe Flaman- Yorkton
2) Sadie McGriskin- Kamsack
3) Anisten Thom- Melville

3000m
1) Sadie McGriskin- Kamsack
2) Mya Lauer- Yorkton
3) Jade Fidek- Invermay

Hurdles
1) Melony Koturbush- Invermay
2) Anisten Thom- Melville
3) Almaz Landega- Canora

High Jump
1) Reanna Solonas- Yorkton
2) Faith Mickelson- Canora
3) Dekea Ryczak- Yorkton


Long Jump
1) Kierra Napady- Melville **
2) Dekea Ryczak- Yorkton
3) Chace Sperling- Yorkton

Triple Jump
1) Kelsey Daschuk- Preeceville
2) Faith Mickelson- Canora
3) Reanna Solonas- Yorkton

Shot Put
1) Taryn Carlson- Melville
2) Samantha Wolfe- Stockholm
3) Cassidy Lake- Yorkton

Discus
1) Taryn Carlson- Melville
2) Chrissy Powers- Esterhazy
3) Kelsey Daschuk- Preeceville

Javelin
1) Shaelyn Myers- Melville
2) Kacie Meroniuk- Sturgis
3) Dakota Mutrie- Esterhazy


PEE WEE BOYS

Aggregate Winner: Josh Haczkewicz
100m
1) Broden Bilokreli- Yorkton
2) Garrett Ellis- Yorkton
3) Christian Acosta- Preeceville

200m
1) Carter Maseley- Sturgis
2) Kayden Tocher- Esterhazy
3) Justine Romulo- Yorkton

400m
1) Josh Haczkewicz- Yorkton
2) Eric Vosper- Langenburg
3) Braydon Wasylniuk- Yorkton

800m
1) Josh Haczkewicz- Yorkton
2) Eric Vosper- Langenburg
3) Logan Rohatensky- Yorkton

1500m
1) Josh Haczkewicz- Yorkton
2) Paul Hotomani- Yorkton
3) Ryder Korczak- Yorkton

3000m
1) Josh Haczkewicz- Yorkton
2) Paul Hotomani- Yorkton
3) Riley Glacier- Melville

High Jump
1) Payton Popowich- Yorkton
2) Garrett Ellis- Yorkton 3)
3) Braydon Wasylyniuk- Yorkton
3) Ryder Korzcak- Yorkton

Long Jump
1) Broden Bilokreli- Yorkton
2) Dalton Norek- Esterhazy
3) Garret Ellis- Yorkton

Triple Jump
1) Garrett Ellis- Yorkton
2) Dalton Norek- Esterhazy
3) Ryan Rathgeber- Melville

Shot Put
1) Braydon Wasylyniuk- Yorkton
2) Dalton Norek- Esterhazy
3) Broden Bilokreli- Yorkton

Discus
1) Justin Fookes- Yorkton
2) Jacob Burak- Melville
3) Carson Haberman- Yorkton

PEE WEE GIRLS

Aggregate Winner: Camryn Danchilla
100m
1) Haley Desnomie- Yorkton
2) Erin Yeadon- Melville
3) Madison Varga- Yorkton

200m
1) Camryn Danchilla- Yorkton
2) Asceline Aberhart- Langenburg
3) Madison Varga- Yorkton

400m
1) Camryn Danchilla- Yorkton
2) Kallie Buennke- Yorkton
3) Alyssa Roulston- Langenburg

800m
1) Gracyn DeCock- Langenburg
2) Makenna Zimmer- Yorkton
3) Kaitlyn Krieger- Melville

1500m
1) Kaitlyn Krieger- Melville
2) Jasmine Mucha- Melville
3) Chai Crisanto- Yorkton


3000m
1) Gracyn DeCock- Langenburg
2) Shanae Olson- Sturgis
3) Kaydence Clay- Yorkton

High Jump
1) Camryn Danchilla- Yorkton
2) Anna Nelson- Grayson 
3) Amy Wileman- Langenburg


Long Jump
1) Camryn Danchilla- Yorkton
2) Alex Hodgson- Yorkton
3) Shanae Olson- Sturgis

Triple Jump
1) Shanae Olson- Sturgis
2) Jasmine Mucha- Melville
3) Sara Lajeunesse- Esterhazy


Shot Put
1) Melissa Crowdis- Langenburg
2) MaKenna Petrychyn- Preeceville
3) Taylor Rubletz- Norquay

Discus
1) Taylor Rubletz- Norquay
2) Jade Wapash- Keeseekoose
3) Jalyssa Peters- Canora


Quadathon Female

1) Jade Goebel (Churchbridge)
2) Jana Lajeunesse (Esterhazy)

Quadathon Male

1) Caleb Bymak (Yorkton Regional)
2) Jarred Groeneveld (Churchbridge)
3) Ben Koroluk (Yorkton)

SJHL Bantam Draft makes 2nd go-around next Thurday

The Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League, in an attempt to keep homegrown talent closer to home, introduced a bantam draft last year and while none of those players selected have had a chance to make an impact on the league the consensus is that it was a success.

The next crop of eligible players are now on the radar and next Thursday the SJHL’s 12 teams will gather to top up their protected lists and try and secure future talent for a league that continues to be on the rise in terms of continually being among the strongest in the country.

“The draft is open to players who have finished their bantam eligibility – similar to the Western Hockey League,” explains SJHL president Bill Chow. “The draft is open to players with a residence in Saskatchewan.”

 “There is a general consensus (among the teams) that it is needed,” added Chow.

Presently, each club has a 50-player protected list in addition to what is known as an “Auto-Protect B List.” This latter list is for players who hail from within the boundaries of a SJHL team and they remain protected by their home team until their 17th birthday. After that time, if they have not made the club, they must be moved to the regular protected list or they become eligible to be listed by any of the other SJHL teams.

The bantam draft, therefore, encompasses all players who are not on an Auto-Protect B List when they complete playing at the bantam level. These players are generally invited to a number of spring and fall training camps by SJHL teams and they will be able to continue attending numerous spring sessions as the draft is not scheduled to be held until the June annual general meeting at which time players could become property of a specific team.

“The draft allows teams to highlight a few players in the province they wish to recruit and retain,” says Chow. “It also allows players and their parents an opportunity to build a relationship with a team.”
Room must be made available on each team’s 50-player protected list to allow for the addition of players selected in the draft, which will feature six rounds. Chow says that not every team is required to select six players, but that is where the bar has been set and with each club having as many as eight overage players (20-year-olds) then having space for new additions should not be an issue.
The draft also becomes another tool in trades as was witnessed at the trade deadline when clubs swapped picks in addition to current players.

It is always a fierce competition attracting young talent and this should help the league continue to make advances in this area. Hopefully, it will also keep homegrown talent within the provincial boundaries.

(SJHL.ca)

WMBL’s Fort McMurray Giants will start their 2016 inaugural season playing in Edmonton

  

Because of a massive wildfire,  the Fort McMurray Giants will begin the 2016 WMBL season playing in the Alberta Captial.

The Edmonton Prospects announced on Monday that the Giants will be welcome to play ball in Rossdale’s Edmonton Ballpark, formerly Telus Field, for the first half of the 2016 season.

The Giants are set to play their inaugural season in the Western Major Baseball League in 2016.
The Giants will kick off their 2016 season on Saturday May 28th when they take on the Edmonton Prospects.

Richardson Pioneer becomes Title Sponsor for the Richardson Pioneer Men's Fastball League

(Submitted by Scott Comfort)

Richardson Pioneer, a division of Richardson International Limited, Canada’s largest agribusiness is proud to partner as the Title Sponsor for the formerly titled Milligan Creek Men's Fastball League.

In its inaugural season, the Richardson Pioneer Men's Fastball League features six teams in East Central Saskatchewan. The league not only offers an opportunity for area men to play, it gives high school kids a chance to play with a lack of minor softball leagues in the area. The Wadena Wildcats and Fishing Lake Mariners are completely made up of 19 and under boys, in addition to some younger players on Wynyard and Foam Lake. The only other option for those boys is to play against Bantam and Midget aged teams with the closest being PA, Saskatoon and Regina.

"We are pleased to support this league and help give high school students and adults the opportunity to play fastball in their community," says Carter Kolybaba, Director of Operations for Richardson Pioneer Wadena. "It's having activities like this that make our communities thrive."

The Richardson Pioneer Men's Fastball League consists of the Foam Lake Merchants, Fishing Lake Mariners, Fishing Lake Cubs, Wadena Wildcats, Rosebud Royals (Wadena), and Wynyard Blues. League President James Holowaty said "This partnership with Richardson Pioneer will allow the league to offer an opportunity to play in an organized league for years to come."

Richardson International is proud to be truly invested in Canadian agriculture. Recognized as a global leader in agriculture and food processing, Richardson is a worldwide handler and merchandiser of all major Canadian-grown grains and oilseeds and a vertically-integrated processor and manufacturer of oats and canola-based products. One of Canada’s Best Managed Companies, Richardson is headquartered in Winnipeg and has over 2,500 employees across Canada and the U.S.

Wheat Kings capture 2016 WHL Title on Friday after 5 game series victory over Seattle

 

                                                 Jayce Hawyluk            Linden McCorrister

The Brandon Wheat Kings won their first Western Hockey League title in more than 2 decades on Friday nigh after a 8-4 win over the Seattle Thunderbirds to win the Best of 7 championship series, 4 games to 1.

Roblin's Jayce Hawryluk had 2 goals and 1 assists in the series clincher on Friday.

Along with Hawryluk, the Wheat Kings also includes former Swan Valley Stampeder Linden McCorrister.

The Wheat Kings will open up their 2016 Memorial Cup in Red Deer on Saturday night at 4PM SK time when they battle the QMJHL champion, Rouyn Noranda Huskies.


Hawryluk talks about the WHL Title and previews the Memorial Cup below: