SJHL set for puckdrop on new season, pushing emphasis on local
It’s a new year, and a new hope for optimism for the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League’s (SJHL) 12 clubs.
The puck is set to drop Friday night on the SJHL season, with 10 teams in action across the province.
For this season though, the second full year for commissioner Kyle McIntyre, it’s all about local, and all about keeping local talents within the province.
“The success to a franchise above fan engagement and community engagement is you have to have some local products on your team. And I think some of our teams have really taken some strong efforts to do that and certainly connection with minor hockey, a connection with sponsors, but more importantly, a connection with the community always puts bums in the seats,” he told CTV News Friday morning.
McIntyre said at the league’s last AGM, a big emphasis was given to coaches and clubs to look for homegrown — with a new Saskatchewan waiver wire now implemented to prevent players from making an out-of-province jump, when teams within our borders could use the extra help.
A new franchise template was also given to clubs to ensure that all clubs and management are on the same playing field, with that added emphasis on growing franchises locally.
The league’s initial set of games on Friday are as follows:
- Melville vs. Estevan, 7 p.m.
- Flin Flon vs. Nipawin, 7 p.m.
- Yorkton vs. Weyburn, 7 p.m.
- Kindersley vs. North Battleford, 7:30 p.m.
- La Ronge vs. Melfort, 7:30 p.m.
For Saturday, a group of home and homes, but also the beginning of the year for Nipawin and Humboldt:
- Melfort vs. Flin Flon, 7:30 p.m.
- Notre Dame vs. Humboldt, 7 p.m.
- Estevan vs. Melville, 7 p.m.
- Weyburn vs. Yorkton, 7 p.m.
- North Battleford vs. Kindersley, 7:30 p.m.
- Nipawin vs. La Ronge, 7:30 p.m.
The SJHL’s 12 teams will play 56 games each, including the SJHL Showcase in Warman from Nov. 13 to 16.
The season ends on March 16, with the Canterra Seeds Cup Playoffs beginning shortly thereafter.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories

Filmmakers in Bruce Peninsula 'accidentally' discover 128-year-old shipwreck
Yvonne Drebert and Zach Melnick were looking for invasive mussels when they found something no has laid on eyes for 128 years.
NHL veteran Perry apologizes for 'inappropriate' behaviour, says he is seeking help
Corey Perry says he has started seeking help for his struggles with alcohol following his release from the NHL's Chicago Blackhawks.
Chinstrap penguins nod off more than 10,000 times per day in seconds-long 'microsleeps,' study finds
A new study has documented the peculiar sleeping habits of this species of penguin. Instead of taking one long continuous period of sleep, chinstrap penguins prefer to sleep in seconds-long intervals, more than 10,000 times a day.
Factors behind Canada's drug shortages go back 'decades': expert
Experts say drug shortages have gradually worsened in Canada over the last decade, putting patients in difficult and sometimes dangerous positions. But potential solutions like rethinking where drug manufacturing is concentrated and expanding pharmacists' prescribing privileges could help ease those impacts.
Israeli military confirms release of 8 more Israeli hostages from captivity in Gaza Strip
Hamas freed eight Israeli hostages Thursday in exchange for Israel's release of more Palestinian prisoners under a last-minute deal to extend their ceasefire in Gaza by another day.
Claims of toxic workplace at CSIS absolutely 'devastating': PM says
Allegations of a toxic workplace culture, involving harassment and sexual assault at Canada's spy agency are 'devastating' and 'absolutely unacceptable,' Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on Thursday.
Suspect arrested in Morocco could be behind Ontario bomb threats, OPP says
Investigators have 'strong reason' to believe that a suspect taken into custody in Morocco could be behind numerous bomb threats across Ontario in early November, police say.
Cristiano Ronaldo faces US$1B class-action lawsuit after promoting for Binance NFTs
Portuguese soccer star Cristiano Ronaldo has been hit with class-action lawsuit seeking at least US$1 billion in damages for his role in promoting cryptocurrency-related "non-fungible tokens," or NFTs, issued by the beleaguered cryptocurrency exchange Binance.
'The only choice': Defence Department going with Boeing to replace aging Aurora fleet
The federal government is buying at least 14 Boeing surveillance planes from the United States to replace the aging CP-140 Aurora fleet, cabinet ministers announced Thursday. The deal costs more than $10.3 billion in total, including US$5.9 billion for the jets themselves, and the planes are expected to be delivered in 2026 and 2027.