Hounds Keep Slim Playoff Hopes Alive!

The Notre Dame Hounds have been hanging on by a thread but they continue to fight after doubling up the visiting Kindersley Klippers 4-2 on Thursday night at the Duncan McNeill Arena in Wilcox.
Super rookie Rylan Schwartz led the way for the Hounds with two goals and one assist including both the game winner and insurance marker. Marc-Andre Nadeau and Blake Peake also scored for the Hounds. Tommy Williams and Kyle Ireland each had a pair of assists for the Hounds who also got assists from Shane Gray, TJ Ahvenniemi and Blayne Stevenson. Kirk Pearce and Casey Rempel replied for the Klippers with assists going to Jeremy Beller, Scott Linnell, Jonathan Redlick and Mat Olson. Mark Currie was strong in goal for Notre Dame as he made 35 saves on the night. Ryan Nieszner suffered the loss as he stopped 22 of 26 shots. The Klippers remain two points back of Melville but still have a game in hand on the Mils. The Klippers are in Weyburn tomorrow night to face the Wings.

Looking at the remaining playoff races in the SJHL:

2nd place in Sherwood:

Melville Millionaires (56 GP - 32-22-2-0 -66 points)

The Millionaires have two games remaining, both at home, as they host Notre Dame on Friday and Estevan on Monday. (make up game). If the Millionaires win their two remaining games they will clinch second place as although the Klippers could go 3-0 and tie Melville in points, the Millionaires won the season series with 4 wins in six matchups.

Kindersley Klippers (55 GP - 30-21-1-3 - 64 points)

The Klippers have three games remaining. They are in Weyburn tomorrow night (Friday), Estevan on Saturday and then finish up at home on Tuesday versus the La Ronge Ice Wolves. The Klippers at a minimum would need at least three points in their final three games (combined with two Melville losses) to clinch second.

Sherwood Conference Race for Third:

Kindersley Klippers (see record above)
Estevan Bruins (56 GP - 28-24-2-2- 60 points)

The Klippers are not assured of finishing in the top three. If they were to lose there final three games combined with two Estevan wins, the Bruins could move into third and drop the Klippers to fourth. If this scenario was to occur, the teams would have the split in head to head wins, would be tied with 30 wins each which means the next criteria would be best goals against average which right now would belong to the Klippers. Although the Bruins chances of third is slim, they say a slim chance is better than none.

Fifth and Final Playoff spot in Sherwood:

Yorkton Terriers (55 GP -21-27-3-4 - 49 points)
Notre Dame Hounds (53 GP - 18-32-1-2 - 39 points)

If there were another month to go in the season I would say the Notre Dame Hounds would have a very good chance of catching the Terriers but with the schedule winding down the chances are virtually impossible. The Hounds will have to win five games in what will likely be six nights in order to clinch the final playoff spot. The Terriers only have three games remaining which ironically are all against the Hounds. Unfortunately for the Hounds they have to win games against the Melville Millionaires (Friday in Melville) and the Weyburn Red Wings (Saturday in Wilcox) before even having a chance coming into the games with the Hounds. If the Hounds are able to get all 12 of their remaining possible points, they would surpass the Terriers for the final playoff spot. Friday night will be one of those very rare times where you will see people from Yorkton cheering for the Melville Millionaires but that is exactly what they will do when the Mils host the Notre Dame Hounds.

The race for third in the Itech is also going strong as the La Ronge Ice Wolves and Flin Flon Bombers are fighting it out to try and avoid the survivor series versus Nipawin and get into the top three. The Ice Wolves have a one point lead over the Bombers going into the weekend with both teams having three games remaining. They will go to battle in a home and home series on Friday and Saturday night. If the Ice Wolves can manage to win both games this weekend they will clinch third in the Itech. The Ice Wolves finish up on Tuesday in Kindersley while the Bombers host the Nipawin Hawks the same night.

- Brad M.