20-year old stars of Superior

They were all born in 2001. Which means as 20-year old players, they are all in their final season of Superior International Jr. Hockey League eligibility. And the way they are all playing at such a high level leads us to believe that their hockey careers will be far from over when the 2021-2022 season ends.

At any rate, following is a Hockey News North look at several 20-year old standouts of the SIJHL — six forwards, three defensemen and one goalie — who are in their final season of junior hockey. All 10 of the stalwarts could well be playing at a Canadian or American university or college — or perhaps in a lower minor professional league — by the time next season comes around.

For now, though, they are all in the midst of the 2021-2022 SIJHL season with plenty of hockey left to play — and so much time to continue to shine. Without further ado, our Top 10 list of 20-year old players is highlighted below, in alphabetical order.

Jordan Baranesky, Red Lake Miners. A local product and pure offensive force as a front line forward, Baranesky leads the Red Lake scoring chart with 16 goals, 16 assists, 32 points in 20 games as one of a number of go-to guys for head coach Geoff Walker and the third place Miners, who have a record of 15-3-2.

Maxime Collette, Dryden Ice Dogs. Hailing from the small, French speaking, Manitoba town of St. Malo, the razzle dazzle, diminutive forward is the leading scorer in the entire SIJHL with 24 goals, 16 assists, 40 points in 23 games.

Alex Enegren, Kam River Fighting Walleye. On a well balanced Fighting Walleye team that is in first place in the SIJHL with 39 points from a record of 19-3-1, the energetic, medium size forward is Kam River’s top scorer with 14 goals, 17 assists, 31 points.

Zachary Fortin, Kam River Fighting Walleye. Perhaps the best all around defenseman in the league — and the heart and soul captain of his hometown Fighting Walleye — Fortin has been a prolific producer from the point with two goals, 20 assists, 22 points in 23 games for head coach Matt Valley and the Kam River crew.

Ryan Hunter, Red Lake Miners. Acquired from the Cochrane Crunch of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League, the lanky forward has been dynamite for the Miners with 12 goals, 11 assists, 23 points in only 10 games since arriving in Red Lake in late October of this year.

Austin Madge, Kam River Fighting Walleye. Arguably the best goalie in the seven-team SIJHL, Madge has been a big fish in the Fighting Walleye net with eye popping numbers — 13-1-0 record, 1.89 goals against average, .945 save percentage and three shutouts.

Kersey Reich, Kam River Fighting Walleye. A key, recent trade acquisition by Kam River general manager Kevin McCallum from the Saskatchewan Jr. Hockey League, the well traveled defenseman has two goals, four assists, six points in 10 games and has been a tower of strength on the Fighting Walleye blue line.

Raj Sangha, Thunder Bay North Stars. The second highest scoring defenseman in the league after the aforementioned Zachary Fortin, the rangy Sangha has 10 goals, 11 assists, 21 points in 19 games for the fourth-seeded North Stars.

Tristan Takats, Dryden Ice Dogs. A 6-foot-5 impact forward who always seems to be involved in the play, Takats has 15 goals, 19 assists, 34 points in only 19 games and gives Dryden a dynamic 1-2 scoring punch with the aforementioned Maxime Collette.

Cameron Ware, Dryden Ice Dogs. Another hulking forward on the top lines of Dryden, Ware has 12 goals, 13 assists, 25 points in 19 games for the second place Ice Dogs, who have a record of 16-8-1.

(action photo of Alex Enegren by Leith Dunick)