2023 MJHL AGM was held recently in Winnipeg

The Manitoba Junior Hockey League (MJHL) held its Annual General Meeting (AGM) in early June at the ALT Hotel in downtown Winnipeg.  The AGM included Governor Meetings, Coach Meetings, Marketing Meetings and culminated with the 2023 MJHL Draft.

Below are highlights from the AGM as well as approved initiatives that will be in place as the league prepares for another exciting season of MJHL Hockey.

HockeyTV / Social Media Committee:

A new ad-hoc committee has been formed to work with teams in all areas involving online streaming broadcasts and social media / website promotion to continue to raise the standards for all member teams across the MJHL. This committee will provide direction, create audit reports, research best practices and act as a resource for all member teams on a go forward basis.

MJHL Officiating Committee:

A new MJHL Officiating Committee will be formed in advance of the upcoming season with representation from current MJHL officials, supervisors, the league office, current MJHL coaches and the MJHL Director of Officiating.  The goal of this committee is to strengthen the partnership between MJHL Officials, the League Office and MJHL Coaches going forward to allow for improved levels of recruitment, development, accountability, communication, consistency and standardization for everyone involved.

MJHL Player Education Program:

The MJHL will move forward with current player education initiatives for the 2023-24 season. These initiatives include:

Inclusivity, Hockey Culture, Creating Safe Spaces Seminar

Anti-Racism and Cultural Sensitivity Seminar

Mental Health / Suicide Prevention Seminar

Social Media, Leadership, Culture, Consent, Drug & Alcohol Awareness Seminar

Player Movement Guidelines:

The MJHL has introduced new player movement guidelines to provide prospects / member teams with additional player movement options.  New guidelines available HERE.

Player Showcases:

The annual MJHL Showcase will return to the traditional format with all 13 member teams playing two regular season games each in one location over three days. The Showcase will take place October 23-25 at Seven Oaks Sportsplex in Winnipeg. Further announcements to follow.

The annual MJHL | SJHL Showcase will once again be hosted by the MJHL in Manitoba. The Showcase features 3 select teams from each league made up of the top 60 players from the MJHL and SJHL. The Showcase will take place January 30-31 at Seven Oaks Sportsplex in Winnipeg with each team playing two games during this high-performance event. Further announcements to follow.

Annually, both events are heavily attended by scouts from the NHL, NCAA, Major Junior and University Programs from across North America.

2023 MJHL Draft:

The 2023 MJHL Draft took place on Sunday June 4, 2023.  CLICK HERE TO VIEW DRAFT RESULTS

2023/24 Regular Season Schedule: 

The 2023-24 regular season schedule was released on Friday June 16, 2023, and is set to begin on Friday, September 22nd 2023. Opening weekend will feature 13 games taking place over the course of the weekend involving all 13 member teams. The MJHL will continue with two divisions for the 2023-24 season featuring the MGEU West (6 teams) and the MGEU East division (7 teams).

CLICK HERE TO VIEW 2023-2024 REGULAR SEASON SCHEDULE

2023-24 Playoff Format:

The current MJHL Playoff Format to remain in place for the 2023-24 season. Playoff attendance this past season was the highest it has been in the previous fifteen MJHL seasons averaging 1100+ per game.

Current Format: The top four teams from each division will advance to a Divisional Round 1 (Quarter-Finals) best of seven series based on regular season points. Winners from round 1 from each division will advance to a non-divisional Round 2 (Semi-Finals) best of seven series based on regular season points. The two winners will then advance to Round 3 (League Championship) in a best of seven series for the opportunity to raise the Turnbull Trophy and represent the MJHL at the 2024 Centennial Cup (CJHL National Championship).

Please stay tuned for more exciting announcements as we progress through the summer.

Audio with MJHL Commissioner Kevin Saurette below:

bennywalchuk2 · Kevin- MJHL AGM Recap (June 22nd 23)

Yorkton Sports Hall of Fame will induct five new members in September

One team and four individuals will be inducted into the Yorkton Sports Hall of Fame and

Museum (YSHF&M) on Sep. 9.

The following individuals will join the Yorkton Sports Hall of Fame:

 Gerry Adam, athlete/builder, curling

 Steven Laycock, athlete, curling

 Madison Neufeld, athlete, synchronized swimming

 Kathy Ziglo, athlete, golf

The team being inducted is the 2013-14 Yorkton Terriers, which won the Royal Bank Cup

national championship in a thrilling overtime victory.

The inductions will take place at the Gallagher Centre on Saturday, Sep. 9 starting at 5 pm.

There will be a reception with appetizers and a no-host bar, followed by the inductions at 6.30

pm. Tickets will go on sale in July at www.yshf.ca.

Following last year’s highly successful induction, the first in eight years, the YSHF&M board

decided to again host an early-evening event rather than a formal dinner, board chair Dick

DeRyk explained.

“The event will also provide an opportunity for the Terrier team to get together 10 years after

the start of their very successful championship season,” he added.

Potential inductees are nominated by members of the community, who provided detailed

information to the YSHF&M nominations committee, chaired this year by Ryan Kitchen. The

committee then applied a widely-used and accepted scoring system to evaluate the nominees

and determine their eligibility for the Hall of Fame.

Following are highlights of the accomplishments achieved by this year’s inductees, leading to

their nomination and induction.

Gerry Adam, athlete/builder, curling

 Served as President of the Yorkton Curling Club;

 Chair and co-chair of major provincial, national and international curling events held in

Yorkton;

 District rep with Saskatchewan Curling Association;

 Assistant coach, trainer and volunteer with Yorkton United Football Club;

 Instructor and coach of numerous junior and women's Saskatchewan curling teams;

 Member of the Shymko 1999 Brier bronze medal team;

 Member of various teams in 2007, 2008, 2015 and 2016 Briers;

 Coach of 1991, 2006, 2021, 2022 and 2003 teams participating in national

championships;

 Coach of Swiss women's team which won a Grand Slam event and the 2017 Swiss

Olympic trials, leading to their participation in the 2018 Olympics.

Steven Laycock, athlete, curling

 Winner of the Cambrian Cup as top 16 and under curler in the Yorkton area at age 14;

 Winner of the 1998 Juvenile Provincial Curling Championship;

 Nine time winner of the Saskatchewan Tankard Men's Curling Championship between

2007 and 2020 with an additional four runner-up finishes;

 2003 Canadian Junior Curling Champion;

 2003 World Junior Curling Champion;

 2006 Canadian University Curling Champion;

 Ten appearances in Canadian Men's Curling Championship including twice as a bronze

medalist;

 Four time participant in the Canadian Mixed Doubles Curling Championship;

 Member of Team Canada at the 2007 World Universiade Games;

 Along with teammates, conducted more than 30 junior camps and learn-to-curl events

to give back to the sport and increase future participation levels.

Madison Neufeld, athlete, synchronized swimming

 In the 2012-2013 provincial championships, represented Yorkton Aquabatix and won

gold medal in the 13 to 15 age group in the stream figure event, gold medal in solo

event and gold medal in the duet event at the age of 13;

 Youngest member of the 2014-2015 Saskatchewan provincial team that competed at

2015 Canada Winter Games in Prince George, BC;

 At the 2014-2015 provincial championships represented Saskatoon Aqualenes and won

the gold medal in 13 to 15 age group national stream duet and gold medal in senior

national stream team;

 At the 2015 Espoir Nationals, participated in the 13 to 15 national stream duet and

placed ninth in Canada;

 Bronze medalist in senior team free at the 2015 Canadian Open Championships and

participated in the 2015 Canada Winter Games in Prince George;

 Coached provincial stream trio and solo with the Yorkton Aquabatix club.

Kathy Ziglo, athlete, golf

 Numerous wins in local and regional tournaments as a junior golfer;

 Provincial High School Champion in 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, and was the only athlete in

golf to win all four years;

 Provincial Junior Champion in 1989, 1990 and 1991;

 Provincial Amateur Champion in 1995 and 2019; member of the provincial team at

national competitions in 1993 to 1995, 1999 and 2004;

 Provincial Mixed Champion in 2009, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2016, 2018, 2019 and 2021;

 Golf Saskatchewan Order of Merit Champion in 2005, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2016, 2019,

2020 and 2022;

 Four time winner of the Regina Ladies Open and the Waskesiu Ladies Lobstick; six time

Saskatoon Ladies Open champion; eight time winner of the Ladies Northern Amateur;

 Member of the Saskatchewan silver medal team at the 2004 Canadian championship;

 Participated in the World Junior Golf Championships at Torrey Pines in 1989;

 Named as one of the top 50 collegiate golfers by Score Magazine in 1993.

2013-14 Yorkton Terrier hockey team

 Claimed the title of SJHL champions by beating the Notre Dame Hounds, Humboldt

Broncos Melville Millionaires in the SJHL playoffs with a combined record of 12 wins and

two losses;

 Won the Western Canada Cup against the champions of Manitoba, Alberta and British

Columbia by beating the host Dauphin Kings in the final game;

 At the Royal Bank Cup national championship in Vernon BC, the Terriers lost their first

two games but rallied to win their next three straight games to win a berth in the

championship game where they won 4-3 in overtime for the national title.


==

Chat with YSHOF Nomination Chair Ryan Kitchen below: 

bennywalchuk2 · 2023 Yorkton HOF - Jun 20th

June 20th Local Sports News & Notes

Langenburg's Zerr signs with Hamilton Tiger Cats (CFL) 

Canadian offensive lineman and Langenburg product Noah Zerr has signed on with the Hamilton Tiger Cats.

The 24-year-old played four games with the BC Lions across two seasons and spent training camp with the club earlier in the season.

The University of Saskatchewan product was originally drafted by the Lions with the 12th overall pick in the 2022 CFL Draft.


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Wolverines sign Shoal Lake's Kominko for 2023/24 MJHL season 

The MJHL's Waywayseecappo Wolverines have announced that  forward Reegan Kominko has signed a letter of intent to play for the Wolverines for the 2023-24 season.

The 17-year-old from Shoal Lake, MB played with RHA Kelowna this past season where he  tallied 51 total points in 65 games across two leagues.

2023/24 MJHL Regular Season Schedule has been released

The Manitoba Junior Hockey League (MJHL) is pleased to announce the 2023-24 regular season schedule, set to begin on Friday, September 22nd  2023.

Opening weekend will feature 13 games taking place over the course of the weekend involving all 13 member teams.

The MJHL will continue with two divisions for the 2023-24 season featuring the MGEU West (6 teams) and the MGEU East division (7 teams).

MGEU WEST DIVISION	MGEU EAST DIVISION
Dauphin Kings	Niverville Nighthawks
Neepawa Titans	Portage Terriers
OCN Blizzard	Selkirk Steelers
Swan Valley Stampeders	Virden Oil Capitals
Virden Oil Capitals	Winkler Flyers
Waywayseecappo Wolverines	Winnipeg Blues
	Winnipeg Freeze

CLICK HERE TO VIEW 2023-2024 REGULAR SEASON SCHEDULE

Once the season gets underway September 22 2023, each team will play a 58-game schedule that concludes on March 17 2024.

The Swan Valley Stampeders open their season with a couple games: Fri. Sept 22nd visiting Dauphin before hosting the OCN Blizzard on Sat. Sept 23rd. 

Meanwhile the Waywayseecappo Wolverines hold their home opener on Fri. Sept 22nd vs. Neepawa before visiting the Niverville Nighthawks on Sat. Sept 23rd. 

The 2024 McMunn & Yates Turnbull Cup Playoffs will begin March 22nd, starting the road to the 2024 Centennial Cup (NJAC) to be held in Oakville, ON in May 2024.

Every MJHL exhibition, regular season, showcase and playoff game will be streamed online in HD with play-by-play through the MJHL partnership with HockeyTV as well as team local radio affiliates. .  Each game will be available to be streamed live or on-demand by family, friends, fans and scouts alike.

Important Dates:

July 20-22: MJHL Prospect Camp (Seven Oaks Sportsplex, Wpg)

September 22-24: MJHL Opening Weekend

October 23-25: MJHL Showcase (Seven Oaks Sportsplex, Wpg)

December 2023: World Junior A Challenge WJAC (TBD)

January 2024: CJHL Prospects Game (TBD)

January 29-31: MJHL | SJHL Showcase (Seven Oaks Sportsplex, Wpg)

March 17: Last day of the Regular Season

March 22: Round 1 MJHL Playoffs

April 5: Round 2 MJHL Playoffs

April 19: Round 3 MJHL Playoffs

May 9-19: Centennial Cup NJAC (Oakville, ON)

Please stay tuned for further announcements to come.

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Whitewood's McEwen reflects after helping Vegas Golden Knights win 2023 Stanley Cup

 

Chat with Whitewood product Brad McEwen below: 

bennywalchuk2 · Brad McEwen - VGK Cup (Jun 15th)

Stampeders held Annual General Meeting on Wednesday

The Swan Valley Stampeders held their annual general meeting on Wednesday night in Swan River. 

Overall, team president Cramer Coulthart says that the AGM saw a good turnout.

 

He says the 2023-23 campaign was a strong one overall, with a deep playoff run, and great community involvement.

 

He also says that they are working to finalize their hockey operations staff, but most of last year's staff will return

"Head coach Barry Wolff will be back for another year, and we are working to finalize something with Asst. Coach Dakota Mason, who was a welcome addition to the club then we will fill the vacant Athletic Therapist spot shortly."

 

Coulthart notes that the team did see a small loss of $18,000.

 

"You know what despite the slight loss, we still like we are at from a business operation side and we still feel in pretty good shape, just with inflation everything seems to be going up in price."

The Board of Directors are continually seeking volunteers and season-ticket buyers. If you or someone you know wants to jump on board, please contact any board member today.

This year the board had several departures to announce. Carson Crowe, Trevor Warburton, Pat Harness and Rhonda Mills have all stepped down.  Cramer Coulthart and Danielle Gordon-Broome were both re-nominated and both accepted the role.

Other board members include Jeff Riddell, Ryan Bettesworth, Evan Morden and Rod Pidskalny.

If you'd like to join the Stampeders board contact Cramer at 1-204-281-4255.

Full Chat with Cramer below:

bennywalchuk2 · Cramer - SV AGM (June 15th)

Swan River's McKay signs 1 year deal with Laval Rocket (AHL)

The AHL's Laval Rocket announced that they've agreed to terms on a one-year contract with forward and Swan River product Riley McKay.

The 24-year-old had two goals and five assists in 23 games last season with the Rocket.

McKay was acquired from the Rockford IceHogs at the start of the 2021-2022 season.