TISDALE, MELFORT, NIPAWIN — Many players connected with the Tisdale Trojans were picked in the 2022 Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League Draft, which allowed the Melfort Mustangs, Nipawin Hawks, and other squads to build for the future.
Eight members of next season’s Trojans U18 AAA squad were selected in the June 10 event. It featured six rounds of 2006-born players and two of those born in 2007. Three other Trojans are from communities where they are auto-protected by their hometown SJHL teams.
“Awesome to see as an organization guys get drafted to the next level,” Trojans head coach Dennis Kubat said. “We want to continue to develop these guys on and off the ice and put them in the best chance to be successful for years to come.”
The SJHL’s Nipawin Hawks grabbed 10 players in the SJHL Draft. The team used the second overall pick in the 2007 draft to grab Tisdale product Lucas Hvidston. The son of Brad Hvidston and Shawna Doucette had 23 goals and 48 points in 25 games for the U15 AA North East team last season. He also played four games for the U18 AAA Tisdale Trojans. Hvidston has committed to play next season for the U18 AAA Yorkton Maulers. After Hvidston was selected in the Western Hockey League Draft by Lethbridge earlier this year, North East head coach Rob Wallington praised him as “the ultimate team player” and said he has “Excellent vision and he ‘thinks/processes’ the game at a high level and very quickly – this allows him to be patient with the puck and to always make good plays.”
With the second overall pick in the 2006 portion of the event, Nipawin selected Saskatoon forward Mason Karakochuk. He racked up 30 goals and 63 points in 33 games for the U18 AA Saskatoon Riverkings last winter. Karakochuk also played two games for the U18 AAA Saskatoon Contacts.
Riverkings head coach Shannon Briske described Karakochuk as “Ultra competitive, makes every player around him compete harder. High-end skill and natural goal scorer. Wants the puck in every important situation. Will be a dominant junior player for the Hawks in years to come.”
With their top pick in the 2006 draft, the Melfort Mustangs took forward Riley Ashe of Warman. He is the younger brother of the late Dylan Ashe, a former Mustang and Trojan. The younger Ashe suited up for the Mustangs in one exhibition game in 2021 and recorded a goal and an assist. In 43 games for the U18 AAA Saskatoon Blazers last winter, he had nine goals and 18 assists. He has committed to the U18 AAA Maulers for next season.
“Riley is a great playmaker with good vision and exceptional puck skills with deceptive speed. He will be a very good junior player with his size and good two-way game,” Blazers manager Cole Shepherd said. Melfort did not choose until late in the second round during the 2007 part of the draft.
Tisdale Trojans
The Humboldt Broncos took Trojans forward Matthew Van Blaricom in the first round, sixth overall. The Southey product had 14 goals and 36 points in 42 games last season for Tisdale.
Defenceman Simon Martin was tabbed by the Broncos five spots later in the first round. The 11th overall pick, who hails from Lumsden, posted three goals and 12 points in 42 games.
In the third round, 35th overall, Humboldt took incoming Trojans forward Peyton Kostiuk. Last winter the White City product had nine goals and three assists in 39 games for the U18 AAA Regina Pat Canadians.
One pick after Kostiuk, Humboldt got Carter Ralston at 36th overall. The forward from Unity had 12 goals and nine assists in 44 games for Tisdale.
In the fourth round, forward Kale Margolis went 40th overall to the Estevan Bruins. He had four goals and 10 assists in 32 games. Margolis is from Kinistino.
Three picks later the Yorkton Terriers picked Luc Bourdon at 43 overall. The defenceman from Prince Albert recorded a goal and seven assists in 44 games.
Fellow Trojans blueline Turner Krahn went 45th overall in the fourth to Kindersley. He recorded an assist in 21 games during an injury-shortened campaign. Krahn is from Saskatoon.
Incoming Trojans forward Dayton Reschny was picked in the sixth round, 61st overall, by Nipawin. Last winter he played for the Prairie Hockey Academy and had 10 goals and 11 assists in 34 games.
The following Trojans hail from communities with SJHL squads and are auto protected by their hometown teams: Ryder Mucha (Creighton, Flin Flon Bombers), Kayd Ruedig (Humboldt Broncos) and Pryce Thiessen (Kindersley Klippers).
Trey Penrod, who suited up last season for Tisdale, was picked 67th overall by Yorkton He will suit up in U18 AAA action for Battlefords next season. So will his brother, Tyce, who the Broncos selected 11th overall in the 2007 portion of the draft.
Melfort Mustangs
In addition to Ashe, the Mustangs drafted:
2006 Born
Cohen Swan
Defence
Second round, 20th overall
Saskatoon
Saskatoon Riverkings U18 AA
31 games, 11 goals, 10A
Sam Grosso
Forward
Third round, 29th overall
Saskatoon
Saskatoon Riverkings U18 AA
33 games, 18G, 12A
Evhan Allan
Forward
Fourth round, 41st overall
Davidson
Prairie Hockey Academy U16
36 games, 8G, 12A
Scott McLean
Defence
Fifth round, 58th overall
Melfort
Prince Albert Mintos U18 AAA
44 games, 1G, 3A
Kyle Lardner
Defence
Sixth round, 71st overall
Saskatoon
Saskatoon Riverkings U18AA
30 games, 5G, 8A
2007 Born
Owen Nelson
Forward
Second round, 22nd overall
Prince Albert
Prince Albert Pirates U15 AA
31 games, 36G, 32A
Nipawin Hawks
Adding to their draft class that was topped by Hvidston and Karakochuk and included Reschny, the Hawks picked:
2006 Born
Konnor Watson
Forward
First round, 5th overall
Spiritwood
Indigenous Sports Academy
34 games, 17 goals, 14 assists
Van Taylor
Forward
Second round, 14th overall
Prince Albert
Prince Albert Mintos U18 AAA
39 games, 6G, 9A
Cade Hynd
Forward
Third round, 26th overall
Saskatoon
Saskatoon Riverkings U18 AA
33 games, 18G, 21A
Ronan Buckberger
Defence
Third round, 28th overall
Saskatoon
Saskatoon Contacts U18 AAA
41 games, 0G, 10A
Jack Janzen
Forward
Third round, 32nd overall
Martensville
Martensville Marauders U18 AA
41 games, 15G, 16A
Marc Belanger
Forward
Third round, 34th overall
Drinkwater
Moose Jaw Warriors U18 AAA
33 games, 22G, 19A
2007 Born
Jace Egland
Forward
Second round, 14th overall
Eastend
Swift Current Broncos U15 AA
31 games, 25G, 38A
