Latest news with #SJHL
Ottawa Citizen
07-05-2025
- Sport
- Ottawa Citizen
Centennial Cup: Hometown hockey hero Zac Somers savours second chance
Article content Zac Somers has gone from Melfort Mustangs fan to a fan favourite. Article content Somers grew up with the Mustangs, attending games religiously while idolizing and worshipping his favourite players like so young fans tend to do. Article content The hometown product is now set to conclude his junior A hockey career at the 2025 Centennial Cup national championship tournament in Calgary as a hometown hero and one of the team's offensive leaders. Article content Article content What a journey it's been. Article content Article content A year ago, the Mustangs were playing in the 2024 Centennial Cup national championship final but Somers sat on the sidelines, unable to play after failing to get medical clearance following a concussion. Article content 'It was tough — probably one of the hardest points of my career — watching them go to war and not be able to be out there with them,' admits Somers, a 5-foot-11, 166-pound forward. 'But hoping to help them out this year.' Article content Somers has more than helped so far. He led his team through the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League playoffs with eight goals and nine assists for 17 points in 14 games. Article content Melfort will open up this year's tournament Thursday in Calgary against the host Canucks. Article content 'Obviously, it's a great experience — it's going to be awesome,' said Somers. 'Especially (after) last year, (when) I was sidelined. I wasn't allowed to play. But being able to play for your hometown — a lot of guys don't get that opportunity — and be able to win two (SJHL) championships and be able to go to two nationals, it's unreal. It's something that's really special and something I'm really grateful for.' Article content Article content Somers was able to mount a comeback this season and led his team to a second-straight SJHL championship title with 13 goals and 25 assists for 38 points in 34 games. Article content Article content 'A little bit of a relief,' said Somers. 'It took it a little while, once I got back on the ice, to get back into it, but I stayed pretty healthy this year and I'm hoping for a pretty good run here.' Article content He didn't even know if was going to be able to play until early September. Six weeks of rehabilitation followed before he returned to the ice. Article content 'It,' admitted Somers, 'was a long haul to get back.' Article content Somers committed to the NCAA's University of Maine Black Bears two years ago but admits that some NCAA rule changes have somewhat clouded his hockey future. Article content 'I'm not too sure,' said Somers. It's kind of all up in the air with the new rules and stuff, so I'm not too sure at the moment. With all the major junior rules changing, we'll see what happens.'
CTV News
28-04-2025
- Sport
- CTV News
Talking to the SJHL Champions Melfort Mustangs
Talking to the SJHL Champions Melfort Mustangs Learn how the Melfort Mustangs are preparing for a return to the Centennial Cup after winning the SJHL for a second straight season
Ottawa Citizen
28-04-2025
- Sport
- Ottawa Citizen
Melfort Mustangs win back-to-back SJHL championships
Article content Melfort Mustangs have now repeated that feat twice since 2015 under head coach and general manager Trevor Blevins. Article content 'I'm not the easiest coach to play for,' admits Blevins, whose Mustangs captured their second straight Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League championship title Sunday night after taking the best-of-seven final series in five games over the Weyburn Red Wings, 'but these guys bought in and they bought in every day.' Article content Article content The Mustangs hoisted the Canterra Seeds Cup following a 3-0 shutout win over the Red Wings before 2,000 fans at the Northern Lights Palace, taking the series four games to one and giving up only three goals in the five games as goalie Kristian Coombs posted three shutouts. Article content Article content 'They play the right way, each guy,' Blevins said of his team. 'You can't help but love each one of them. It was a fantastic effort (in the SJHL final) all the way down the line-up. I'm so proud of them. They deserve it.' Article content Through 14 playoff games overall, Melfort allowed only 19 goals in total. Article content Melfort also won back-to-back titles in 2015 and 2016. 'Best feeling in the world,' said Mustangs captain and defenceman Ty Thornton, who was named the playoff MVP for this season's post-season run. 'Obviously you can look and see back-to-back. It's amazing. I didn't know that (playoff MVP award) was going to happen. That's awesome. To be on this team this year and have this experience, I'll never forget.' Article content Article content Zach Turner, Reilley Kotai and Logan Belton, with an empty-netter, scored in Game 5 for Melfort, which outshot Weyburn 35-16 as Coombs posted another shutout. Article content Article content The Mustangs took a commanding 3-1 lead in the series with a convincing 5-1 win Thursday night in Weyburn, where Thornton, Nolan Roberts, Zac Somers, Zayden Sadlemyer and Danton Cox each tallied once. Article content The Mustangs finished first overall in the SJHL this season with a 46-8-0-2 record, while Weyburn was third at 35-19-2-0. Article content 'Forget about the past,' said Thornton. 'Our regular season was insane but we forget about the past. Every game is a new game. We started fresh every time and I think that helped us a lot.' Article content Melfort now moves on to the Centennial Cup for the second straight year. A year ago, the Mustangs reached the national junior A championship final, only to lose 1-0 to the Collingwood, Ont. Blues in Oakville, Ont.
CBC
19-02-2025
- Sport
- CBC
Notre Dame Hounds might leave hometown after 4 decades for fresh start in Warman, Sask.: SJHL
The Notre Dame Hounds are set to leave their hometown after almost four decades for a new start in Warman, Sask. The Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League announced Tuesday that its board of governors have approved the move. The team has called the town of Wilcox, Sask., about 45 kilometres southwest of Regina, home since 1987. That could change in the 2025-26 SJHL season. The sale is still waiting approval by Warman city council and the SJHL. If all goes to plan, the players on their protected list and coaching staff will be relocating. "It's a little bittersweet," said Wade Klipstein, the director of hockey development at the Athol Murray College of Notre Dame (AMCND) in Wilcox. "People knew that the business side of it was a struggle, and we knew eventually that if things didn't change we could be here at this point." Final decision coming in March Warman city council will make the final decision in March after hearing from the town's citizens over the next few weeks. The plan is also contingent on a successful season ticket sale and corporate sponsorship drive in the community, which will likely take place over social media in the coming weeks. SJHL's Notre Dame Hounds looking at move to Warman 1 day ago Duration 2:58 The SJHL said Warman has been asking the league for an expansion franchise for a year. "The traditions are things that we want to build on," said Gary Philips, Warman's mayor. "We want to build a fan base and keep that excellence within our community and within this team. "It's another focus for us in the sense that it's another reason to come to Warman and see all that we have to offer." Possible arena upgrades in the works Warman's arena is only a decade old, but the city is considering upgrades to the space if the move is finalized. Philips said the number of seats could be increased and a press box added. The arena currently holds 1,178 seated visitors and 500 standing. In its first year, the Hounds won both the Innovative Cup and the Centennial Cup. That team showcased players who would make it big in the NHL, including Curtis Joseph and Rod Brind'Amour. They were coached by Barry MacKenzie. The SJHL says it's looking forward to a fresh start in Warman. "We've held our SJHL showcases there probably for the last seven or eight years, and we always are really embraced by the community," Kyle McIntyre, the SJHL's league commissioner, said. "We have very good community support and interest. We have great attendance at our games." McIntyre confirmed the decision to relocate was first brought up after the hockey program at AMCND changed leadership and reassessed their program, identifying a new vision for the school. The current programs at AMCND are set to continue as usual.
