The final game of the SJHL/MJHL Showcase, played Wednesday evening in Winnipeg, would be another win for the SJHL, as they captured five of the six games at the event. The U18 Team Blue from Saskatchewan would take an early lead over Manitoba’s Team White, thanks in part to Cade Meiklejohn of the Richardson Pioneer Weyburn Red Wings, and went on to a 5-2 victory.
The SJHL squad would take the lead with 1:23 to play in the first period, as Jaydon Iyogun from the Melville Millionaires found the back of the net. His goal was assisted by Anthony McIntosh.
Team Blue would then make it 2-0 at the 7:30 mark of the second, as Meiklejohn scored. Nipawin’s Ronan Buckberger had the assist on the goal.
Manitoba got on the board just past the halfway mark of the period, when Owen Witt tallied to make it 2-1 with 8:44 remaining. The SJHL squad, though, would turn things on in the third period, thanks in large part to the power play.
Just 83 seconds into the third, Finley Radloff from Nipawin would score on the power play. His goal was assisted by Cam Perlinger. Then, at 9:53 of the third, Ben Costantino scored an unassisted goal with the man advantage, and it was 4-1 for the SJHL.
Connor Paronuzzi would answer for the MJHL with 6:25 to play in the period, but it was too little, too late. An empty net, short-handed goal by Cam Perlinger with 1:35 to play would seal the deal, and the SJHL won the game 5-2.
In the first game of the day, the MJHL would earn their lone win of the event, as Team Black beat the SJHL’s Team Gold 4-2. In the other game, the SJHL’s Team White outlasted Manitoba’s Team Red to win 7-5.
This was the fifth edition of the Showcase, and the SJHL has been the dominant team at the event. Out of the 30 games played across the five years, Saskatchewan has taken 20 of them and has had the winning record every year except for 2020, which was the last time the Showcase was held in Saskatchewan.
The SJHL’s regular schedule is set to resume tomorrow night, with five games on the schedule. The Weyburn Red Wings will be back in action, travelling to Kindersley to open up a set of back-to-back games against the Klippers. You will be able to catch all the action on both nights on Great Plains Ford Red Wings Radio Country 106.7. Nick Nielsen will have the call with the pregame show starting at 7:15 p.m.