Last weekend marked a full-circle moment for many members of the Selkirk Fishermen junior hockey club.
On Friday evening, the Fishermen were designated the home team for their Capital Region Junior Hockey League matchup against the La Broquerie Habs at Sagkeeng Arena Complex.
The game highlighted the Fishermen’s strong pull beyond Selkirk, with roughly three-quarters of the rink filled with spectators.
Many in attendance were family and friends of the Fishermen’s Sagkeeng First Nation players, including Connor Bruyere, Marcus Sharpe, Theo Courchene and Sage Courchene, while other members of the roster hail from nearby communities.
Ultimately, the Fishermen fell 4-2 despite each team recording 30 shots on goal. The game nevertheless provided a highly anticipated return to Sagkeeng Arena Complex after last year’s annual trip was cancelled.
“Going back there was great,” said Fishermen head coach Chris Poponick. “The atmosphere was fantastic — everybody in the community supports it. There’s people coming to the games from Grand Marais and Pine Falls, and that entire area. They’re kind of starving for a little bit of hockey action when they had a junior team there for many years, so it was great.”
La Broquerie’s Colton Pakoo, also a local product, recorded two assists in his club’s win.
Selkirk goals were scored by Izzy Aime and Logan Saluk, both in the third period, while Johnny Enns-Demchuk made 26 saves in the Fishermen crease.
The Fishermen also played two other games last week amid the CRJHL’s announcement of its 2025-26 all-stars.
The league named at least two all-stars from each of its seven clubs. Forwards Zach Gallinger and Ashton Schroeder were selected as Selkirk’s representatives following strong seasons.
Gallinger leads the team with seven goals and 21 assists for 28 points, while Schroeder sits one point back with 21 goals and six assists for 27 points.
Poponick said both players earned the recognition.
“Ashton Schroeder is kind of one of those utility knives that can play in any situation,” Poponick said. “He never stops working. He generates offence, protects on defence — he’s just a crafty player. For a young kid who’s only 18 years old, it’s quite impressive.”
“Zach has come into his own,” he added. “He came to us from the MMJHL and was struggling to find his game and how to play his game, and he really fell into the power-forward role. He’s quite dominant when he gets that puck and starts cruising through the neutral zone. I compare him a lot to John LeClair. He used to play for the Philadelphia Flyers — just a big body who battles hard on the boards, has a really good sense of the game, and can almost play with anybody because he works so well and sees the ice so well.”
Both Gallinger and Schroeder scored in Selkirk’s 6-4 win over the North Winnipeg Satellites last Tuesday at Billy Mosienko Arena.
Saluk, Aime, Deacon Kemp and Sage Courchene added the other Fishermen tallies, while Enns-Demchuk finished with 25 saves.
Friday’s game in Sagkeeng followed before Selkirk returned to action Sunday afternoon in Lundar against the Falcons.
The Fishermen fell behind 4-0 in the second period before goals from Dawson Bergagnini and Ryan Cromie got Selkirk on the board in the third.
Lundar sealed the win with an empty-net goal to claim a 5-2 victory.
Enns-Demchuk stopped 11 shots, while Lundar’s Dylan LeClair made 38 saves to lead his club.
Selkirk holds a 15-7-0-0-2 record for 47 points in 24 games, keeping the Fishermen in third place. With their current position, Selkirk has guaranteed home-ice advantage for the opening round of the CRJHL playoffs.
With six games remaining, the Fishermen will continue battling for playoff positioning in hopes of a more favourable first-round matchup.
The next three games will all be played on the road due to the 2026 Bunge Championship being hosted at the Selkirk Recreation Complex, limiting available practice time.
That reality has been accepted by the coaching staff, at least until the tournament concludes Feb. 8 and the team can return home.
In the meantime, Selkirk faces road matchups against North Winnipeg, Arborg and St. Malo before returning home for its final three-game homestand from Feb. 15-20.
Upcoming games:
Tuesday, Feb. 3 — at North Winnipeg Satellites, 8 p.m., Billy Mosienko Arena
Friday, Feb. 6 — at Arborg Ice Dawgs, 8 p.m., Arborg & District Arena
