Whitewood’s Hamilton named to Team Canada for 2024 Hlinka Gretzky Cup

Team Canada will have a bit of local flavor when they hit the ice next week for the 2024 Hlinka Gretzky Cup.

Whitewood product & defenceman Reese Hamilton will wear the maple leaf for the Canadian squad in the event which runs from August 5th to 10th in Edmonton, Alberta.

In his first full season in the WHL, Hamilton had eight goals, 23 assists for 31 points in 42 games for the Calgary Hitmen.

The Hlinka Gretzky Cup is an annual invitation-only event held each August that is the only best-on-best competition at the U18 level.

Team Canada opens up the tournament against Switzerland on Monday, August 5th. 

 

Yorkton Terriers (SJHL) announce additions ahead of 2024/25 season

 

The Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League's Yorkton Terriers announced a signing on Monday in preparation for the highly anticipated 2024/25 SJHL season.

 The Terriers have signed 2005-born left-shot defenseman Thierry Laliberte from Montreal, Quebec and 2005-born Yorkton forward Vinay Junek.

Laliberte had one goal and six assists, totaling seven points over 30 games with the Saint-Laurent Patriotes of the QCHL this past season, while Junek in 49 games this past season had 44 points with the Princeton Posse (KIJHL).

The excitement doesn’t end there.

The Terriers are also thrilled to announce the hiring of Pierre-Luc Simeon as Assistant Coach for the 2024/25 campaign.

This appointment underscores the team's commitment to strengthening their coaching staff and enhancing player development.

 Simeon brings with him a wealth of experience, having spent the past nine seasons coaching in Quebec.

His leadership was instrumental in propelling his last team, Cégep Beauce-Appalaches Condors of the QJHL, to the top of the league standings for two of the past three years.

"His proven track record speaks volumes about his coaching abilities and his knack for fostering a winning mentality. "Pierre-Luc brings a ton of enthusiasm, and it is evident that he loves the sport of hockey," said Terriers Head Coach/GM Emery Olauson. "He has an unwavering passion for developing players, building teams, and fostering a competitive spirit that will undoubtedly contribute to the success of our organization and the growth of our players. I am incredibly excited to welcome P.L. and his family to Yorkton and integrate him into our coaching staff. Together, P.L., Scotty, and Zach will offer an unmatched level of support and development for our players. We eagerly look forward to the start of the season!"

Adding to the excitement, Pierre-Luc and his family will be joining us in mid-August, infusing new energy and strategic depth into the Yorkton Terriers.

With these significant additions, the team is poised for an exciting and competitive season ahead.

Hockey Canada approves Western Canadian Development Model pilot project for the 2024-25 season

Hockey Canada has announced the approval of its Western Canadian Development Model (WCDM) pilot project for the 2024-25 season.

 This initiative, developed in collaboration with its four Western Members, Junior A hockey leagues, and the Western Hockey League (WHL), aims to enhance junior hockey across Western Canada.

The WCDM pilot project is set to transform the landscape of junior hockey by providing greater choice and flexibility for players and their families. It prioritizes the unique needs of athletes both on and off the ice, ensuring they develop at a level that matches their abilities.

Pat McLaughlin, COO and EVP of Strategy for Hockey Canada, stated, "The unity between Hockey Canada and the 10 organizations that led the development of the pilot project has never been stronger. We all must continue to evolve to meet the needs of Canadians looking to participate in our National Winter Sport."

The WCDM working group includes representatives from BC Hockey, the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League, the Pacific Junior Hockey League, Hockey Alberta, the Alberta Junior Hockey League, Hockey Saskatchewan, the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League, Hockey Manitoba, the Manitoba Junior Hockey League, and the WHL.

"Our league is extremely pleased to partner with Hockey Canada, the Western branches the WHL & the other western Junior A leagues to continue to do what's best for the western canadian athlete." SJHL Comissioner Kyle McIntyre commented. "This in an exciting and unprecedented collaboration & we're excited and ready for the season to begin."

The pilot project will be reviewed throughout the 2024-25 season, with plans for expansion in future seasons. 

Changes for 2024/25: 

1. Standard of play and rules

By streamlining the application of Playing Rules for the same age group, athletes, coaches and officials participating in sanctioned Western Junior A leagues will gain experience and develop in a similar environment to the WHL.

• All participating Western Junior A leagues will adopt the WHL Rule Book, except for Section 1 – Playing Area, Section 3 – Equipment, Rule 34.6 – Television, Rule 38 – Video Goal Judge and Rule 46.14 – Major Penalty.
• Fighting in the Western Junior A leagues will continue to follow the existing Hockey Canada Rule 7.10.
• As part of the pilot, players 18 years of age or older as of December 31 of the current season may choose to wear half-face protection, while those under the age of 18 must continue to wear full-face protection, in line with the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) Rule 202.

2. Roster composition

To increase flexibility in the development pathway for 15- and 16-year-old players in Western Canada, a number of changes will be implemented, including:

• All 15-year-old affiliate players will be eligible to play up to 10 games with their WHL Club, the same as 16-year-old affiliate players.
• Instead of rostering a maximum of five 15-year-old affiliate players in a season, WHL Clubs will be allowed to name up to nine by January 10.
• If a WHL Club cannot dress a full roster of 20 players for a game, the team will now be eligible to dress two 15-year-old affiliate players.
• WHL Clubs will be able to designate one 16-year-old player, who upon being returned to a Junior A, Canadian Sport School Hockey League or U18 team, will be allowed to play up to 15 games in the WHL.
• If one of the four Members participating in the pilot has granted a 12-, 13- or 14-year-old player special status to play in an advanced age category, any such player must be evaluated to ensure they currently meet and are deemed to continue with special player status in their 15-year-old year to qualify and continue to be eligible to play up to 34 games in the WHL.

 

Terriers; Millionaires swing deals over weekend

TERRIERS ACQUIRE 2006-BORN FORWARD LEONARD FROM PRINCETON (QJHL) 

The Yorkton Terriers announce they've acquired 18-year-old forward William Léonard from the Princeton Titan of the QJHL in exchange for a player development fee. 

Leonard, a Drummondville, Quebec product had 15 goals, 36 assists for 51 points in 48 games with the Titan during the 2023/24 campaign. 

MILLIONAIRES ACQUIRE HINCHSLIFF FROM BUFFALO (OJHL) 

The Melville Millionaires added some size to their forward unit in a trade with the Buffalo Jr. Sabres (OJHL).

The Millionaires picked up 6'2", 190lbs forward Beckett Hinchsliff from the Sabres for a player development fee. 

The Chicago, Illinois native contributed 5 goals, 10 assists for 15 points in 45 games this past season. 

Harnett resigns as Head Coach & GM of Waywayseecappo Wolverines (MJHL)

The MJHL's Waywayseecappo Wolverines will welcome a new bench boss for the 2024/25 season.

On Friday, the Wolverines announced that Head Coach and General Manager Taylor Harnett has resigned from his position, effective immediately.

Harnett has led the Wolverines for the past seven seasons, initially joining the team in November 2017.

Under his leadership, the Wolverines secured playoff spots in three of the past six years.

Harnett expressed that his decision was incredibly difficult and emphasized that Waywayseecappo will always feel like home to him.

The organization extends its heartfelt thanks to Taylor Harnett for his dedication over the past seven years and wishes him success in his future endeavors.

The search for the next Head Coach and General Manager will commence shortly.

Local product Campbell makes history by joining Seattle Kraken as Asst. Coach

The Seattle Kraken made history on Wednesday by hiring local product Jessica Campbell as Assistant Coach, making her the first woman to hold an on-the-bench role as an assistant or associate coach in NHL history.

“You speak to the word first, to be the first,” Campbell said in her introductory press conference. “But that’s never really where my focus is, it’s always on the work, it’s on the impact, it’s on the job. There’s a lot to this game and to this job, and so, I’ve never taken it for granted."

The 32-year-old who grew up in both Rocanville & Melville, spent the last two seasons as an Asst. Coach with AHL's Coachella Valley Firebirds, alongside Dan Bylsma who was named the Kraken's new Head Coach earlier this off season.

Before getting into coaching, Campbell played NCAA Division I hockey with the Cornell Big Red, and with Canada’s women’s national team, with whom she won silver at the 2015 world championship.

She started her hockey days with the Rocanville and Melville Minor Hockey systems, before suiting up with Melville Prairie Fire U18 AAA, and the Pursuit of Excellence in Kelowna, BC.

Yorkton Korczak inks new two-year deal with Vegas Golden Knights (NHL)

 

Yorkton product Kaedan Korczak has a new deal with the Vegas Golden Knights (NHL). 

The 23 year old signed a two-year contract extension with the club on Monday, that carries an $825,00 AAV on Monday.

Korczak played in 26 games with the Golden Knights in 2023-24, scoring one goal while adding eight assists, while also playing in 26 games with their AHL-affiliate in Henderson.

He was a Knights' second round pick in the 2019 draft and made his NHL debut in 2021-22. 

2024/25 SJHL Regular Season Schedule released

                            

The 2024/25 Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League regular season will begin on Friday, September 20th as the full schedule was released on Canada Day yesterday (Mon). 

Opening night will feature 5 games including the Melville Millionaires visiting the Estevan Bruins while the Yorkton Terriers entertain the Weyburn Red Wings for their home opener at the Westland Insurance Arena  before visiting Weyburn on Sunday afternoon 

Each twelve-member club will play a total of of 56 games throughout the campaign which ends on Sunday, March 16th, 2025.

A change for this season will be the elimination of the SJHL Showcase in Warman, as this year the league and the MJHL will come together for two events. 

The first event takes place in November in Saskatchewan and will act as an elite identification camp for the upcoming 2024 World Junior A Challenge while the second event will be the annual MJHL – SJHL Showcase which will be held in Winnipeg at the end of January 2025. 

For a full look at the 2024/25 schedule CLICK HERE

YORKTON TERRIERS SCHEDULE BREAKDOWN:

September:  4

October:  11

November: 10

December: 6

January: 11

February: 9

March: 5

FULL SCHEDULE 


MELVILLE MILLIONAIRES SCHEDULE BREAKDOWN: 

September:  4

October:  10

November: 11

December: 7

January: 10

February: 8

March: 6

FULL SCHEDULE