Wednesday 28 August 2019

Melville Millionaires Coaches Show - August 28th edition




Swan Valley (MJHL) hires Karod as teams new Associate Coach




The Swan Valley Stampeders (MJHL) have hired Suneil Karod as the teams new Associate Coach.
Karod, a native of Nanaimo B.C., spent the past 10 seasons with the Victoria Cougars of the VIJHL, with the last 3 as Head Coach and GM.
During his time with the Cougars, Karod was part of five league championships, and 7 regular season titles.
He also spent time with the Chilliwack Chiefs of the BCHL as an assistant coach, where they went on to become National Champions in 2018.

The Stamps also announced that last year's Asst. Coach Ryan Bettesworth has stepped back from the coaching staff to focus on family and work commitments.
The Stampeders will hold their training camp this weekend and will kick off their 2019-2020 preseason, on September 2nd when they travel to Dauphin to take on the Kings.

Monday 26 August 2019

Yorkton Terriers Coaches Show- Aug 26th edition

Local Baseball Canada Championship Recap

Baseball Canada 13U Boys National Championships in Quebec
**9th place game**
Saskatchewan 8
  Alberta 2

**(Fort Qu'Appelle's Kellen Muirhead and Whitewood-born Karter Scott are members of Team Saskatchewan)

Results/Schedule: https://gc.com/t/spring-2019/a-saskatchewan-5cfaaa09cc6827002127189f/schedule/games

Ray Carter Cup 15U Boys National Baseball Championships in Oshawa, Ontario
**Semi-Finals**
Manitoba 1  Ontario 5
**Bronze Medal Game**
Manitoba 4 PEI 6
**(Strathclair's Connor Geekie was a member of Team Manitoba)

**7th place game
Saskatchewan 5  Alberta 4
**(Melville-born Chris Sastaunik and Brett Walchuk were members of the Saskatchewan coaching staff)

Results/Schedule at https://gc.com/tmt/summer-2019/15u-boys-ray-carter-cup-championship-5c9b12d652adea001f2a1503/schedule

Baseball Canada 16U Girls Invitational Championships in Bedford, Nova Scotia
**7th place game

Saskatchewan 6 Ontario 4
**(Moosomin products' Jaycene Willms and Ava Metzger are members of Team Saskatchewan)

Tuesday 20 August 2019

Swan Valley Stampeders (MJHL) complete a couple trades on Tuesday





The Swan Valley Stampeders shipped out 20 year old D Troy Quinn out west to the BCHL's Merritt Centennials in exchange for 19 year old D Mattias Dal Monte and futures.

Quinn, a Nepean ON product compiled 24 points in 40 games with the Stamps last season while also chipping in with 2 goals and 9 points in 17 playoff games. 

Meanwhile, the 6'3" 185 pound Dal Monte who hails from Nanaimo BC had 9 points in 40 games with the Centennials. 

_____________________________

The Swan Valley Stampeders (MJHL) have traded 2001 born-forward Justin Svenson and future considerations to the Winnipeg Blues for 2000-born forward Cyle McNabb and 2001-born Defenseman Austin McIvor.

In 15 games last season with the Stamps, Svenson posted 6 goals and 5 assists for 11 points.

McNabb who spent time in the Western Hockey League last season with the Vancouver Giants, Saskatoon Blades and Kootenay Ice posted 10 points (7G, 3A) in 59 games.

McIvor, a native of Winnipeg MB spent last season with the Shawnigan Lake School prep, where he posted 6 points (2G,4A) in 34 games.


Caught up with Stamps Head Coach/GM Geoff Grimwood to chat about the trades/offseason

Monday 19 August 2019

Stamps' Uryga commits York Lions (USports)

The Swan Valley Stampeders are pleased to announce that forward Alex Uryga has committed to play with York University in Toronto, ON for the upcoming season.

The North Vancouver, B.C. native made stops with the Kelowna Rockets (WHL), North Van Wolf Pack (PIJHL), Alberni Valley Bulldogs (BCHL), Polonia Bytom (Poland), and the Olds Grizzlys (AJHL) playing in 90 games, scoring 31 goals and adding 28 assists.

The Stampeders acquired the 6’2”, 200-pound forward from Olds on November 3, 2018 by former Head Coach and General Manager Barry Wolff, and would become a dominant player for the organization.

The 20-year-old Uryga dressed in 42 regular season games with the Stamps` scoring 15 goals and adding 19 assists. He would add another 17 points in 17 playoff games during the franchises best post season in history.

The Swan Valley Stampeders continue to provide a great platform that allows our players to stay focused and committed to their long term goals of making it to the next level.

We want to congratulate Alex Uryga on his recent commitment to York University.

(Stampeders Press Release)

Sobkow; Hyas baseball teams among 2019 Saskatchewan Baseball Hall of Fame inductees

(Erna Sobkow, wife of the late Bill Sobkow accepting his 2019 Sask. Baseball Hall of Fame plaque)
**Photo from Brady Lang and Yorkton Cardinals twitter


The Saskatchewan Baseball Hall of Fame Class of 2019 was officially inducted over the weekend in the Battlefords, with 12 players, 3 teams, one family and a city being honoured.

Among those inducted posthumously was Calder product Bill Sobkow.

Bill died suddenly in September of 2016.

Sobkow started in the game of baseball at a young age playing before in his later years getting into coaching which included stints with the Melville Millionaires and Yorkton Cardinals, who he recreated in 2002 and brought them back to the then Western Major Baseball.

Bill was rewarded for his efforts being named the league's top coach and executive that same year.

Also inducted was the 1920's to 1930's baseball teams of Hyas, Saskatchewan.

Among the other inductees:

Don Anweiler (Saskatoon)

Gary Brotzel (Regina)

Sharon Clarke (Regina)

Bernie Eiswirth (Regina)

Elmer Franks (Weyburn)

Don McIntyre (Neilburg)

Ernie Moser (Mendham)

Dean Pylypow (North Battleford)

Lawrence Sloan (Glaslyn).


Posthumously inducted

Dwayne Andreen (Saskatoon)

We Reader (Lafleche)


In the team category

Mendham Monarchs (1961-93)

Mervin Juvenile Legionnaires (1948-52).

Friday 16 August 2019

Yorkton SeCon Maulers (SMAAAHL) holding Fall camp this weekend

There's a new coach, new General Manager and new crop of players coming in when the Saskatchewan Midget AAA Hockey League's Yorkton SeCon Maulers hold their training camp this weekend at the Farrell Agencies Arena.

Mauler General Manager Chad Korczak says they'll be bringing in a little bit of a smaller group of players for the camp.

"We will have around 65 guys in camp, and we went smaller just for the fact we aren't looking to fill the whole roster and it also makes it easier for evaluations and such."

Along with Korczak coming on board as the teams' GM, the club also announced this offseason that former Terrier coach Ed Zawatsky will return to the area to be the Head Coach.

"We're excited, he brings a lot of knowledge and for us its about advancing our guys to the next level whether its Junior or college or what ever route they wanna go and we feel that Eddy will give them the best chance to do that and the kids will learn a lot from him."


Mauler Fall Camp Schedule below:





Full chat with Maulers GM Chad Korczak below:

Melville Millionaires (SJHL) 2019 Annual General Meeting Recap



The SJHL’s Melville Millionaires held their 2019 Annual General Meeting in the Horizon Credit Union Center Boardroom last night (Thurs).

The Mils missed the playoffs during the 2018/19 season, and that's something that according to team President Dwayne Kraft attributed to the club's loss financially.

"Not a very good year for us financially, we lost some money around 45-thousand dollars attributed to that is the decrease in attendance, some fundraising shortfalls and we had some financial obligations from our coaching change mid-season as well."

Kraft adds that it is disappointing with the loss of money any year, but thinks there is a few ways that can do to try to get that profit back.

"Definitely making playoffs is critical, it helps any team and just simply wins, we need to be putting a better product on the ice and that draws interest as well our improving the fundraising, our Ag project was great but we need to try and get more money fund raised."

A newly-structured 9 person board of directors was also introduced during the meeting that does away with the two-tier structure they had in previous.

Board includes:
Dwayne Kraft
Tammy Stevenson
Dawn Melnychuk
Bruce Graff
Richard "Bunker" Hill
Tara Badduke
Renee Waldbauer
Charlotte Poier

**One spot to be filled in the near future

Full chat with Mils President Dwayne Kraft





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Mils named new Asst. Coach; Waldbauer adds Asst. GM to his title


The Mils also announced some additions to their hockey operations staff.

They named 26 year old Philip Fife as an Assistant Coach.

Fife, a Oromocto NB product just completed his USports career with the University of Waterloo previous to that he spent 4 years in the Maritime Junior Hockey League.

This will be his first gig behind the coach.

Meanwhile the Mils also announced that Melville product Jarett Waldbauer will add Assistant General Manager to his title to go along with remaining as of the club's Assistant Coaches.

Thursday 15 August 2019

Stampeders acquire D Saether from Powell River (BCHL)


The MJHL's Swan Valley Stampeders have swung a deal with the Powell River Kings (BCHL) to add some size to their back-end.

The Stamps have acquire 6'3". 185 pound Brenden Saether in exchange for future considerations.

The 19 year old product of Abbotsford, BC had 3 points in 43 games with the Kings this past season..

Elite Prospects
 Season Team League GP G A TP PIM      Playoffs GP G A TP PIM 
 2014-2015 BCMML Flyers 1U16 Cup- - -- -|      
 
  Abbotsford Hawks Bantam A1PCBHL48 2 911 64|      
 
 2015-2016 Yale Hockey Academy Elite 15sCSSHL E1534 2 68 32|Playoffs3 0 00
  Yale Hockey Academy PrepCSSHL2 0 00 0|      
 
 2016-2017 Mission City OutlawsPIJHL44 1 78 64|Playoffs5 0 11
 2017-2018 Mission City OutlawsPIJHL42 4 59 48|      
 
  Surrey EaglesBCHL14 0 00 8|Playoffs13 0 00
 2018-2019 Powell River KingsBCHL43 0 33 22|Playoffs2 0 00

Monday 12 August 2019

Waywayseecappo Wolverines (MJHL) hires Rakochy as new Goalie Coach

The Waywayseecappo Wolverines are proud to announce the hiring of Zach Rakochy as the teams’ Goaltending Coach.

A veteran of 197 games at the Junior ‘A’ level, the Canora, Saskatchewan native split his junior career between the Melville Millionaires in the SJHL and the Steinbach Pistons in Manitoba. Rakochy was a part of the 2012-13 Pistons roster who were able to capture a league championship in six games over the Dauphin Kings.


The 26-year-old former puck stopper is now a seed farmer by trade and also serves as an Assistant Coach with the SJHL’s Yorkton Terriers. While it may seem like a lot on his plate, Rakochy is ready for the opportunity.


“It’s an honor to join the Wolverines,” Rakochy said of his role with the organization. “I’m really excited about his (Taylor Harnett) vision of the team and the program. What the team did last season, it made people rethink the Wolverines which was amazing to see. I’m just looking forward to being a part of it.”


A big part of what Rakochy brings to the table is his wealth of experience at the Junior ‘A’ level. Being able to relate to the Wolverines goaltending tandem is part of the key to success in the crease, and according to Rakochy, the mental aspect of the game is one of the biggest areas where he hopes to make an impact.


“Of course we work on technique and make sure everything is crisp, but a big thing is going out there with the goalies and talking about the position. I’ve been between the pipes and I know what they’re thinking and going through, hopefully, I can guide them and steer them in the right direction.”
While posting a solid goals-against average and save percentage is important to Rakochy, it’s not everything. The newest member of the Wolverines staff says having solid numbers is great, but in the end, it’s about the wins.


“Numbers are important, but the biggest thing is having more wins than losses. If I can have two goaltenders that have more wins than losses, then I’m doing my job at the end of the day. I’m just excited to put in the work. When I played in the MJHL, Wayway always had the best ice in the league so I’m looking forward to coming back,” Rakochy concluded.

Welcome to the Wolverines organization, Zach & family.

(Wolverines Press Release)

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Wolverines' swing deal with Olds (AJHL)
The Waywayseecappo Wolverines have acquired 20 year old D Matt Kasowski from the AJHL's Olds Grizzlys.

The 5-foot-11, 185-pound defenceman from St. Albert had 8 points in 27 games with Olds while serving as team captain during the 2018/19 season.