By WAYNE SHIELS
Jaxon Herchak of the Kindersley Klippers and Dustin Renas of the Yorkton Terriers played key roles in the Team SJHL 2-0 win in Game 2 of the Western All-Star Showcase in Warman on Wednesday, November 6.
Herchak made a clearing pass to Melville Millionaires Raiden Zacharias, who broke down the side boards before feathering a cross-ice pass to Renas, who rifled a one-timer high blocker side for what ended up being the game winner.
Herchak later set up the insurance marker, feeding Melville Millionaires Jadon Iyogun, who buried a backhander past Manitoba’s goalie.
Waldheim’s Herchak and Saskatoon’s Renas were on familiar ice, having starred with the Warman Wildcats. Herchak played with the U15AA Wildcats 2020-22, and with the U18AAA Wildcats 2022-24. Renas played with the U18AAA Wildcats 2020-22.
The win meant the event ended in a split after Team MJHL had won Game One 4-2 on Tuesday evening, as the 40 participants put on a terrific show for the many scouts and fans in the rink over both games and during their practices..
“This event was a tremendous opportunity for several of our 2006 and 2007 players to compete for positions on Team Canada West and an opportunity to showcase their talents to NCAA schools,” said SJHL Commissioner Kyle McIntyre.
“The event was broadcast across the FloHockey network and will be broken down by Instat for the analytics. The games and practices were intense, high-paced and entertaining to watch. The attendance in Warman was solid, and the parents whose boys were part of the event felt it was first class, top to bottom. I was super-impressed with how all 40 players from both leagues carried themselves throughout the event, both on and off the ice. We had several volunteers that assisted Director of Marketing Jacob Faith and I with the event, and of course, the staff at the first class Warman facility were fantastic with us throughout.”
The three-day event saw a roster of 20 players from the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL) compete against the Manitoba Junior Hockey League (MJHL) in a pair of exhibition games as a part of a selection camp to determine 20 spots for the Canada West team training camp for the World Junior A Challenge to be held in Calgary later this month.
The 2024 Junior A World Challenge will see Canada West and Canada East faceoff against teams from the United States and Sweden in Camrose, Alberta from December 9-15. Team Canada West is looking to repeat as champions.