Local sports briefs: Rush, SJHL, Huskies football, NHL Draft rankings

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The Saskatchewan Rush will need to win Saturday to advance to the National Lacrosse League playoffs.

There are several scenarios which would see the Rush qualify for the post-season, but all are contingent on the Rush defeating the first-place Toronto Rock on Saturday night in their final regular-season game.

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Game-time is 7 p.m. at SaskTel Centre.

Toronto has clinched first place overall and home-field advantage throughout the playoffs with a 14-3 record.

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Saskatchewan (8-9) is currently tied for the eighth and final playoff spot with the Vancouver Warriors (8-9) and New York Riptide (8-9). The Panther City Lacrosse Club (9-8) could also find itself in a tie-breaking scenario with a loss in its final game of the regular season.

Melfort Mustangs advance to SJHL final against Flin Flon Bombers

The Melfort Mustangs will meet the Flin Flon Bombers in the Canterra Seeds Cup final.

The best-of-seven final series begins Friday in Flin Flon. Game 1 and Game 2 will be played Friday and Saturday in Flin Flon before the series switches to Melfort for Game 3 and Game 4 next Wednesday and Thursday.

Flin Flon — which led the league with a 44-9-2-1 record during the regular season— is undefeated so far in the playoffs with a perfect 8-0 record. The teams split the season series with three wins apiece.

The Mustangs edged the Humboldt Broncos 5-4 in overtime Tuesday in Game 7 of their SJHL semifinal series with four of the seven games decided in extra time.

Ryan Duguay scored the winner, on the power play, at 2:55 of OT to clinch the series after sitting in the penalty box himself to start overtime while the Broncos were on their own power play.

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Danton Cox, Chase Friedt-Mohr with two, and Aidyn Hutchinson also scored for Melfort, which led 2-0 after the opening period but trailed 3-2 after two periods.

Warman product Spencer Bell tallied twice to lead the Broncos, giving him a team-high 10 goals in the playoffs, with singles going to Connor Thue and Jacob Strizzi.

The Mustangs outshot the Broncos 42-34.

Benjamin Motew made 37 saves for Humboldt. Saskatoon product James Venne stopped 30 shots for Melfort.

Long promoted to Huskies’ offensive co-ordinator

After six seasons of serving as an offensive assistant with the University of Saskatchewan Huskies football team, Jeremy Long has been named offensive coordinator ahead of the 2024 season.

Huskie football head coach Scott Flory made the announcement Thursday.

The Huskies will officially begin their 2024 season on May 2 with the annual Dog’s Breakfast at Prairieland Park, featuring guest speaker Sean Payton (head coach of the NFL’s Denver Broncos), followed by the beginning of spring camp at Griffiths Stadium in Nutrien Park.

Saskatoon’s Daniel Okpoko ranked No. 13 among CFL prospects

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Saskatoon St. Joseph’s Guardians product Daniel Okpoko, a defensive lineman at San Diego State University, is ranked No. 13 in the Canadian Football League Scouting Bureau spring rankings.

Okpoko has moved up two spots from his winter ranking.

Saskatoon’s Catton is No. 8 for NHL Central Scouting final rankings

Saskatoon product Berkly Catton is listed at No. 8 among North American skaters in the National Hockey League’s Central Scouting final rankings.

Catton, a former Saskatoon Contact who grew up playing in Saskatoon Minor Hockey Association’s Red Wings zone, is a member of the WHL’s Spokane Chiefs. He racked up 54 goals and 62 assists for 116 points in 68 games during the regular season.

Prince Albert Raiders forward Ryder Ritchie is ranked No. 19. Prince Albert product Tanner Howe, a member of the Regina Pats, is listed at No. 41. Saskatoon’s Josh Zakreski, who plays for the Portland Winterhawks, is No. 157.

Meanwhile, Matthew Van Blaricom, a forward for the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League’s Humboldt Broncos, is ranked No. 139.

Saskatoon’s McQueen named to Canada’s U-18 world championship squad

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Saskatoon product Roger McQueen has been selected to play for Canada at the IIHF U-18 World Championship April 25-May 5 in Finland.

McQueen is one of seen WHLers named to Team Canada’s roster. The 6-foot-5 Brandon Wheat Kings forward, who played in the Saskatoon Minor Hockey Hockey Association’s Bobcats zone and later for the Saskatoon AAA Blazers, is eligible for the 2025 NHL Entry Draft.

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