The SJHL will open the regular season tonight with 10 of the league's 12 teams in action including the Flin Flon Bombers hosting the Nipawin Hawks.
Both these two teams will look significantly different especially up front with the Hawks only returning 4 forwards from last year with the Bombers bringing back seven.
You could argue that these two teams had the deepest forward groups up front from across the league last year, so there will lots of holes to fill for both teams.
The Hawks will be led by Finley Radloff who was third in team scoring last year with 39 points in 50 games and Eric Hoiness who had 32 points in 55 games.
Nipawin also only has one returning defenseman in Henry Smith but are very excited about a lot of the new recruits that they have brought in and should be one of the youngest teams in the league.
My feeling is that Nipawin may take a few lumps early in the season but as these youngsters get accustomed to playing in the SJHL, should be a fun team to watch not only this season but for many years to come.
The Bombers are looking to go in a different direction as according to Head Coach and GM , Mike Reagan they are re-tooling and not rebuilding. Saying that they have a lot of offense to replace with Justin Lies, Jacob Vockler, Alexi Sylvestre, Noah Houle and Riley Niven moving on.
The good news is that Carter Anderson is back and he established himself as one of the most dominant and exciting players in the league last year. Anderson had 62 points in 40 games and led the league in powerplay goals with 22.
Anyhony Piccininno is back after a decent season last year with 39 points in 50 games as well as second year forward Koen Senft. The Bombers are also excited to have back for their fourth season in the Maroon and White in Kylynn Olafson and Cole Tanchuk. One of those players is expected to be named captain this year.
Kenny Marquart who has been waiting to be the starter after backing up Harmon Laser Hume the past couple of seasons is ready for his new challenge.
Marquart had very good numbers in backing up Laser Hume last year and ended up going 16-3 with a 2.17 GAA and 4 shutouts.
Some of the new faces the Bombers are excited about include forward Rhett Ewen who he picked up from Laronge and local products Ryder Mucha and Wyatt Stinton.
The Bombers were also able to pick up veteran forward Ryder Ringor who should be able to play in their top 6. Ringor comes from the Sherwood Park Crusaders of the BCHL where he put up 38 points in 65 games and makes his Bomber debut tonight.
The Bombers have had the Hawks number the last few seasons and beat them in all 6 meetings last year and have won 17 of the last 20 head to head matchups.
Remember this is a new season and the Hawks are very excited about the prospects that they have recruited and brought in.
Game time tonight is 7:30 and we are rarin to go with Creighton Furniture Flin Flon Bomber Hockey as we kick off the new season with the Great North GM Coach's Show at 7:10.
We will also be in Melfort tomorrow for a rematch of last year's exciting SJHL Final and you can catch all the action beginning with the Great North GM Coach's Show at 8:10 and drop of the puck at 8:30 MB time.
