By Laurence Heinen /

Early in the season, three of the six teams in the SJHL’s Itech Conference feature a defenceman leading the way in scoring.

With the departure of several veterans, all six teams have several new faces leading the way so far as well.

HUMBOLDT BRONCOS

A pair of veteran defenceman, a rookie and twin forwards have helped the Humboldt Broncos jump out to an impressive 8-0 record.

Brady Wacker led the way with two goals and 13 assists followed closely by fellow 20-year-old blueliner Tanner Vandesype who put up three goals and six assists through eight games.

Rookie forward Spencer Braaten notched four goals and four assists to put him on a point-a-game pace, while the twin Schroeder brothers each compiled seven points with Steven (4g, 3a) outpacing Scott (2g, 5a) in the goal department.

FLIN FLON BOMBERS (4-3)

Perhaps no team in the SJHL has gone through as massive an overhaul as the Flin Flon Bombers.

The top seven scorers from last year’s team are nowhere to be seen this year as six of them were 20-year-olds who have graduated from the squad, while leading scorer Reid MacLeod has yet to play a game this season.

Picking up the slack has been 20-year-old forward Tommy Castonguay with three goals and 11 assists through seven games for the 4-3 Bombers.

Rookie Alex Lamontange put up six goals and six assists in that span, while former La Ronge Ice Wolves forward David Lawrence had four goals and five assists. Rookie forward Mathier Lecours and 20-year-old defenceman Harley Garrioch have helped out with a goal and seven 
assists each.

LA RONGE ICE WOLVES

Dustin Stevenson is well on his way to eclipsing his point totals from last season with the La Ronge Ice Wolves.

The 19-year-old defenceman notched six goals and added five assists through 10 games for the 3-6-1-0 Ice Wolves. In 53 games last season, Stevenson scored twice and added 11 helpers.

Rookie forward Joey Coffin put up six goals and set up two others in his first 10 SJHL games, while Dan Conacher made the transition from playing with the AJHL’s Okotoks Oilers last season to recording four goals and four assists in the early going for the Ice Wolves this year.

MELFORT MUSTANGS

With the departure of several veterans from last year’s team, Kyle Fraser has stepped to the forefront with the Melfort Mustangs this season.

Not one to shy away from the rough stuff, the 20-year-old forward scored twice and added six assist to go with 25 penalty minutes in Melfort’s first eight games during which time the Mustangs compiled a 2-5-0-1.

Early in his first SJHL campaign, Deven Stillar has discovered a nose for the net with six goals and one assist, while fellow rookie Blake Hietala and returning forward Gary Childerhose both put up three goals and four assists.

BATTLEFORDS NORTH STARS (2-4)

Last season Shawn McNulty led the struggling Battlefords North Stars in scoring with just 10 goals and 14 assists in 56 games.

With three goals and four helpers in just five games, 19-year-old forward Alexandre Leclerc is more than a quarter of the way to surpassing those totals.

Defenceman Brody Malek, also 19, has scored twice and set up three others for the 2-4-0-1 North Stars, while rookie winger Dane Muench and returning forward Colton Graf have each notched three goals and one assist.

NIPAWIN HAWKS (2-6)

A pair of defenceman have led the way so far for the struggling Nipawin Hawks (2-6) through eight games.

After scoring eight goals and adding 23 assists in 31 games last season, 19-year-old blueliner Taylor Thiessen has tallied three times to go with five helpers early this campaign.

Rookie 17-year-old defenceman Cristopher Neurauter, who will turn 18 on New Year’s Eve, scored once and set up six others during that same timeframe.

Following a 26-goal, 36-assist campaign to lead the Hawks, 20-year-old forward Torrie Dyck had two goals and four helpers in his first eight games this season.