The 2023–24 SJHL season was the 56th season of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League. The league championship Canterra Seeds Cup was awarded to the Melfort Mustangs, who went on to take 2nd place in the 2024 Centennial Cup national championship tournament in Oakville, Ontario.

2023–24 SJHL season
LeagueSJHL
SportIce hockey
DurationRegular season
September-March
Post-season
March-April
Number of games56
Number of teams12
TV partner(s)SaskTel maxTV
Streaming partner(s)flohockey.tv
2023 Draft
Top draft pickPreston Baerwald
Picked byMelville Millionaires
League championship
Canterra Seeds CupMelfort Mustangs
  Runners-upFlin Flon Bombers
Season MVPKian Bell
National championship
ChampionsCollingwood Blues
  Runners-upMelfort Mustangs
SJHL seasons

Season highlights

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The CJHL mandated that players born after 2004 must wear full facial protection when playing.[1] Battlefords North Stars forward Kian Bell became the first player in SJHL history to receive the league MVP award in consecutive years.[2]

Regular season

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Teams map, 2023–24 SJHL season
 
 
200km
125miles
Bombers
Terriers
Millionaires
Bruins
Red Wings
Hawks
Mustangs
Hounds
Broncos
Ice Wolves
North Stars
Klippers
   Nutrien Division
   Sherwood Division
   Viterra Division

Teams played a 56-game regular season schedule, with teams within the same division playing each other 6 times, and 4 times for teams in other divisions.[3][4]

Nutrien Division
Team GP W L OTL SOL Pts GF GA PIM
Humboldt Broncos 56 37 15 3 1 78 250 169 1376
Battlefords North Stars 56 36 15 4 1 77 254 189 1287
Kindersley Klippers 56 23 26 5 2 53 173 206 1425
Notre Dame Hounds 56 15 39 2 0 32 152 262 1029
Sherwood Division
Team GP W L OTL SOL Pts GF GA PIM
Flin Flon Bombers 56 44 9 2 1 91 244 129 1219
Melfort Mustangs 56 38 14 3 1 80 218 158 1248
Nipawin Hawks 56 22 29 1 4 49 180 194 1399
La Ronge Ice Wolves 56 16 35 3 2 37 161 242 1326
Viterra Division
Team GP W L OTL SOL Pts GF GA PIM
Melville Millionaires 56 32 23 0 1 65 183 179 1212
Weyburn Red Wings 56 26 24 0 6 58 195 213 1610
Estevan Bruins 56 26 26 2 2 56 190 212 1280
Yorkton Terriers 56 21 30 2 3 47 185 232 1350

Post-season

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2024 SJHL playoffs
Tournament details
Dates22 March – 30 April
Teams8
Defending championsBattlefords North Stars
Final positions
ChampionsMelfort Mustangs
Runner-upFlin Flon Bombers
Tournament statistics
Games played37
Attendance48,112 (1,300 per game)
Official website
2024 SJHL playoffs

The eight top-ranked teams at the end of the regular season advanced to the playoffs.[5] The Melfort Mustangs were awarded the Canterra Seeds Cup and advanced to the 2024 Centennial Cup national championship tournament in Oakville, Ontario after defeating the 1st-place Flin Flon Bombers in game 6.[6][7] The Melfort Mustangs were defeated by the Collingwood Blues of the OJHL in the final round of the 2024 Centennial Cup.[8][9]

Quarterfinals Semifinals Finals
      
Flin Flon Bombers 4
Kindersley Klippers 0
Flin Flon Bombers 4
Battlefords North Stars 0
Battlefords North Stars 4
Melville Millionaires 0
Flin Flon Bombers 2
Melfort Mustangs 4
Melfort Mustangs 4
Estevan Bruins 1
Melfort Mustangs 4
Humboldt Broncos 3
Humboldt Broncos 4
Weyburn Red Wings 3

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Lang, Brady (27 June 2023). "Visors, expansion, a new waiver wire: what to expect for the upcoming SJHL season". CTV News Regina. Bell Media. Retrieved 27 July 2024. Beginning next year, all players born after Dec. 31, 2004 will have to wear full facial protection when playing, grandfathering the new rule in.
  2. ^ Martinson, Martin (13 April 2024). "North Stars celebrate best of season with year-end awards". battlefordsnow.com. Pattison Media. Retrieved 27 July 2024.
  3. ^ Martinson, Martin (28 June 2023). "SJHL announces schedule for 2023-24 season". saskNOW. Pattison Media. Retrieved 22 September 2024.
  4. ^ "2023-24 SJHL standings". HockeyDB.com. Retrieved 27 July 2024.
  5. ^ Postey, Drew (1 May 2024). "Melfort Mustangs win 2024 SJHL championship in six games". CTV News Regina. Bell Media. Retrieved 27 July 2024.
  6. ^ "2023-24 SJHL playoff Results". hockeydb.com. Retrieved 27 July 2024.
  7. ^ Zary, Darren (1 May 2024). "Melfort Mustangs win SJHL championship, advance to Centennial Cup". Saskatoon StarPhoenix. Postmedia. Retrieved 27 July 2024.
  8. ^ Douglas, Cooper (23 May 2024). "SJHL commissioner recaps time at Centennial Cup". westcentralonline.com. Retrieved 27 July 2024.
  9. ^ Reiter, Nathan (19 September 2024). "Defending SJHL champion Mustangs hopeful heading into 2024-25". Prince Albert Daily Herald. Retrieved 22 September 2024.

Further reading

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