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The SJHL proved to be the better league on the first day of the SJHL/MJHL Showcase in Regina Monday. The three teams from the league took all three games from the MJHL, including a dominant 5-1 win in the opening game.

The day started off with Team Schwartz from the SJHL playing Team Garbutt from the MJHL. Both teams were comprised solely of players born in 1999 or later.

The MJHL squad would be the first to get on the board when James McIsaac (Portage Terriers) beat Jack Ryan (Notre Dame Hounds) just 3:58 into the first period. Joey Moffatt Portage Terriers) and Riese Gaber(Steinbach Pistons) assisted on the goal. From there, the SJHL squad took over, as they would score five unanswered.

The scoring began at the 7:11 mark, when Chrystopher Collin (Flin Flon Bombers), assisted by Antonio Di Paolo (La Ronge Ice Wolves) and Matthias Urbanski (Battlefords North Stars), beat Matthew Radomsky (Steinbach Pistons) on the power play. Just over eight minutes later, the SJHL expanded the lead to 2-1, when Tim Gould (Notre Dame Hounds) potted a feed from Cade Kowalski (Weyburn Red Wings). Urbanski was credited with the other assist.

Neither team was able to find the back of the net for much of the second period, but then another goal from Collin, with Curtis Wiebe (Notre Dame Hounds) and Gould assisting, expanded the edge to two goals. It would be 4-1 just under a minute later, as Kowalski buried a feed from Ben Hiltz (Weyburn Red Wings), giving the SJHL the lead.

Before the period was out, Wiebe scored a goal of his own, with Gould assisting, giving him three points on the day.

The two teams meet again Tuesday morning, with the puck dropping at 10:30 a.m.

The second game of the day saw Team Zajac from the MJHL taking on Team Mitchell from the SJHL. Both teams were made up of players born in 1997 and 1998. The SJHL would win the game 4-2.

The SJHL squad jumped out to an early lead. Nick Shumlanski (Humboldt Broncos), assisted by Caleb Moretz (Flin Flon Bombers) and Jake Heerspink (Estevan Bruins), scored before the game was seven minutes old.

From there, Michael McChesney would jump a pass in the neutral zone while the MJHL team was on the power play, and skated in on a shorthanded breakaway. The goal on Hayden Dola (Selkirk Steelers) made it 2-0.

The MJHL team responded just over three minutes later. Ashton Anderson (Neepawa Natives), assisted by Justin Metcalf (Neepawa Natives) and Darby Gula (Steinbach Pistons). The MJHL squad then proceeded to tie things up early in the second period. A late addition to the squad, Daylon Campbell (OCN Blizzard) scored, assisted by Jeremey Leipsic (Portage Terriers).

The tie wouldn’t survive a minute, though. McChesney would score his second of the game, assisted by his linemate from the Bruins, Zach Goberis.

The SJHL would add one more goal late in the second period. Calvon Boots (Flin Flon Bombers), assisted by Hayden Guilderson (Estevan Bruins) and Kalem Zary (Melfort Mustangs) beat Dola to make it 4-2.

The third game of the day featured the two other teams comprised of players born in 1997 & 1998. Team Kunitz from the SJHL and Team Belfour from the MJHL took the ice to wrap up the day. It would be the SJHL team again coming out with the win, repeating the 4-2 score.

The two teams had a fast paced back and forth opening. It would be the MJHL squad to open the scoring. Nolan McGuire (Winkler Flyers) put a pass from Weiland Parrish (Winkler Flyers past Jacob Standen (Notre Dame Hounds) making it 1-0. Tyson McConnell (Steinbach Pistons) was marked with the other assist on the goal.

When the third period, opened, though, the SJHL was up to the task to pull themselves back into the game. Levi Kleiboer (Battlefords North Stars) opened the scoring at the 3:11 mark with a power-play goal, assisted by Chaz Smedsrud (Notre Dame Hounds) and Chance Longjohn (Notre Dame Hounds).

Longjohn would then score a goal of his own five minutes later. Clayton Eisler (Melville Millionaires) and Smedsrud assisted on the tally.

The lead was extended when Damian Bentz (Melville Millionaires) jumped a pass in the neutral zone while the MJHL team enjoyed a power play. He would come in and beat Troy Martyniuk (Winkler Flyers) for the shorthanded, unassisted tally.

One the same power play, Team Belfour pulled within one. Drew Worrad (Steinbach Pistons), assisted by linemates from home Will Koop (Steinbach Pistons) and Bradley Schoonbaert (Steinbach Pistons) would beat Justen Close (Kindersley Klippers). Close came on halfway through the second period as the SJHL team rotated their netminders.

With just under two and a half minutes left, Longjohn would get his second goal of the day, a shorthanded marker assisted by Cody Spagrud (Battlefords North Stars) sealing the game for the SJHL squad.

The six teams will all be back on the ice Tuesday. It starts with the first game at 10:30 a.m. with Team Schwartz (SJHL) playing Team Garbutt for the second time. After that, Team Mitchell (SJHL takes the ice against Team Belfour (MJHL) at 2:00 p.m. The showcase wraps with the final game of the day between Team Kunitz (SJHL and Team Zajac (MJHL) at 5:00 p.m.