The second day of the SJHL/MJHL Showcase in Regina looked as though it would be the squads from Manitoba avenging their three losses Monday, but after the SJHL dropped the first game of the day 5-2, they rallied back to win the second game of the day 4-3 in overtime, then the final game 5-2 in the late game. The SJHL won five of the six games in total over the two-day event, but more importantly, the 120 players who attended received exposure to a number of scouts from around North America.

In the morning it would be the young guns on the ice, with the two teams comprised of players born in 1999 or later playing. Team Schwartz from the SJHL took on Team Garbutt from the MJHL.

Manitoba opened the scoring just past the halfway mark of the first period, when Joey Moffatt (Portage Terriers), assisted by Carter Barley (Selkirk Steelers), scored on Saskatchewan netminder Jake Anthony (Nipawin Hawks). Just over two minutes, the double up the lead, when Kolton Kanaski (Virden Oil Capitals) scored, with Ryan Heino (Neepawa Natives) getting credit for the assist on the marker.

The MJHL players would then really turn it on with two goals in just over 30 seconds to start off the second period. At the 2:06 mark, Riese Gaber (Steinbach Pistons), who is already committed to Western Michigan, showed why the NCAA school wanted him in their lineup, as he beat Anthony. Michael Ladyman (Winnipeg Blues) assisted on the goal. Just 33 seconds later, Barley found the back of the net, with Moffatt assisting on the goal.

Saskatchewan would break the shutout bid of Matthew Thiessen (Steinbach Pistons) just past the six-minute mark of the frame. Cody Bruchkowski (Yorkton Terriers) scored on the power play. He received help from Xavier Labelle (Humboldt Broncos) and Curtis Wiebe (Notre Dame Hounds) on the goal.

Halfway through the second period, the SJHL squad changed up the goaltender, as they had done in Monday’s game. Coming in to replace Anthony was Jack Ryan (Notre Dame Hounds).

The change in goaltenders didn’t change too much for Team Schwartz. Austin Heidemann (Steinbach Pistons) would score later in the period, with Barley earning his second assist of the day.

The SJHL rounded out the scoring late in the third period, when Wiebe scored his second goal of the showcase, assisted by Matthias Urbanski (Battlefords North Stars) and Bruchkowski.

The second game of the day would prove to be one of the more thrilling games of the showcase, as Team Mitchell from the SJHL edged past Team Belfour from the MJHL 4-3 in overtime.

There was no scoring between the two teams in the first period, then in the second, it looked like it was going to be all Saskatchewan.

It started when Michael McChesney (Estevan Bruins) scored his third of the showcase, assisted by his regular linemate back home Zach Goberis (Estevan Bruins) just 1:06 into the period. The SJHL team then added to the score when Brett Harasymuk (Nipawin Hawks) took advantage of a miscue by the MJHL team and put it in past netminder Riley McVeigh (Virden Oil Capitals).

Jake Heerspink (Estevan Bruins) then extended the lead just after the halfway mark of the period. His goal was assisted by Caleb Moretz (Flin Flon Bombers) and Harasymuk.

In the third period, Manitoba pressured all game, and eventually found a way to get the puck past Brenden Newton (Flin Flon Bombers), as they scored three goals to tie the game up in just under six minutes.

The first goal came from defenseman Mitchell Dyck (Winkler Flyers) on a shot from the point. Daniel McKitrick (Steinbach Pistons) and Keaton Jameson (Swan Valley Stampeders) assisted. It was followed up with a fantastic individual effort from McKitrick four minutes later.

With just over a minute left, Manitoba pulled the goaltender in favour of an extra attacker. With the extra skater on the ice, Nolan McGuire (Winkler Flyers) notched his second of the Showcase to tie the game up. Drew Worrad (Steinbach Pistons) and Coltyn Bates (Winkler Flyers) assisted on the goal.

The game then went to a three-on-three overtime, with a shootout to follow if there were no goals in the five minute extra period. Team Mitchell wouldn’t need the full five minutes, though.

Just 52 seconds in Kalem Zary (Melfort Mustangs) scored the game winner, assisted by Reed Gunville (Melfort Mustangs), giving the Saskatchewan team the 4-3 victory.

In the late game, Team Zajac from the MJHL took the ice against Team Kunitz from the SJHL. It would be all SJHL, as they skated to a 5-2 victory to close out the showcase. The SJHL scored four goals in the first period alone, as they built up a sizable margin.

It started with Keillan Olson (Kindersley Klippers) finding the back of the net behind Dorian Laganiere (OCN Blizzard). Colby Brandt (Notre Dame Hounds) and Erik Olson (Weyburn Red Wings) assisted on the goal. Logan Schatz (Humboldt Broncos) then buried a feed from Layne Young (Battlefords North Stars) less than a minute later. Damian Bentz (Melville Millionaires) had the other assist.

Saskatchewan extended the lead with a goal from Colby Brandt (Notre Dame Hounds), assisted by Schatz. Justin Ball (Melfort Mustangs) then ended the scoring for the period with just 26 seconds remaining, with an unassisted tally.

Manitoba came out firing in the second. Justin Metcalf (Neepawa Natives) scored on Justen Close (Kindersley Klippers) just five and a half minutes into the period. Nico Labossiere (Selkirk Steelers) and Jeremey Leipsic (Portage Terriers) assisted on the goal. Metcalf then scored his second of the day six minutes later, with Kyle Salaway (Virden Oil Capitals) and Jaret Lalli (Steinbach Pistons) assisting on the goal. After the tally, the SJHL changed their netminder, with the aim for equal playing time for both. This meant Jacob Standen (Notre Dame Hounds) would come in to finish off the game.

Standen would be perfect for the rest of the day, and the 4-2 lead was expanded on just over a minute after the MJHL goal. Cody Spagrud (Battlefords North Stars) found the twine behind Laganiere, with Marshall Wilton (Notre Dame Hounds) and Chaz Smedsrud (Notre Dame Hounds) assisting on the goal.

While the games provided excitement for the fans, estimated to be over 900 on the first day alone, with 120 of the best junior A hockey players from both leagues in attendance it was an invaluable resource for scouts at the next level. After each game, the scouts, ranging from schools in NCAA Division 1 such as Maine and Canisius, to Division III Schools like Stevenson University, as well as scouts from Usports and the NHL, talked with the players, making their pitch on bringing them to their program. While it remains to be seen how many commitments will come from the two-day event, the success on the ice and off the ice had many wondering when next years event will be held.