KJHL title still undecided

Posted on January 27, 2019 by Scott Ludwig — Leave a comment

With just one month to go in the Keystone Junior Hockey League regular season the chase for the top spot continues. Cross Lake Islanders (17-4-0-0) hold a slim two-point advantage on the OCN Storm (16-5-0-0) and lead the head-to-head series 4-3. The two will face off one last time during the final weekend of play when the KJHL Showcase Series stops in Peguis February 22-24.

With 51 points Dennis Scatch leads all league scorers with 25 goals, just ahead of Islanders teammate Justin Dorion with 23 goals (43 points). Keith Monias and Quinton Scatch each have 33 points while Garrison Garrioch has posted 27 in 18 games.

Seth Ningeongan, Pilot Mound Buffaloes

Seth Ningeongan has been the regular netminder for Cross Lake since being acquired from the Frog Lake Thunderbirds (NEAJBHL) in early December. The native of Nunavut has a 7-1-0 record and is third among league goaltenders with a .877 save% in his eight games. Still just 18-years old, Ningeongan has played in some big games with Pilot Mound Hockey Academy the past two seasons. He was also named Top Goaltender at the Nunavut Polar Bear Plate Midget tournament in February 2018.

Sitting atop the standings for most of the season, the Storm have dropped their past three matchups against Cross Lake. A balanced offense, OCN boasts the KJHL top scorer in C.J. Thompson who has 54 points. Bryson Werbicki-Mallet, Troy Head, Sheldon Chartier, Noah Butler and Ethan Constant all have at least 20 points to their credit.

The goaltender tandem of Keian Weseen and Braxton Constant are atop the league leaders giving the Storm a strong opportunity to win each game.

Chasing the top two teams all season are the three-time defending champion Peguis Juniors (6-9-0-1) who have played shorthanded all season long. Despite the lack of healthy players the Juniors have proven dangerous. Leading the offense has been Tyrome Spence-Bair has posted 45 points in just 13 games played. Quinton Flett (37 points), Ethan Daniels (33 points) and Sundance Paul (21 points) have Peguis a threat to defeat anyone when on the ice.

Despite just six points in the standings Norway House North Stars (3-20-0-0) have been competitive in many games. Leading scorer Tyler McKay has 20 points while Albert Berard has 18 points in 12 games played. Goalie Mehtab Sivia leads the league in minutes played and has a .864 save%.