The SJHL is almost ready to start its 2022-23 season. (Submitted photo/Susan McNeil)

By northeastNOW staff

Junior Hockey

SJHL gears up for September start

Aug 17, 2022 | 3:00 PM

With fall in sight, Junior A hockey in Saskatchewan is getting ready to lace up the skates and head back onto the ice.

The SJHL recently announced its annual showcase times and location, which will happen in Warman this year.

Players will stop regular league play in order to combine their talents starting Sept. 25 and running until Sept. 28 at the Legends Centre.

In a bigger matchup, players will compete against their counterparts in Manitoba later in the season for the MJLH-SJHL Showcase in Winnipeg.

This is the first year the event will take place in Manitoba, running from Jan. 31 to Feb 1 at the Seven Oaks Sportsplex.

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SJHL commissioner, Kyle McIntyre, said it is time to share the fun as the inter-provincial match reaches its fourth year.

“We look forward to building off the success of the previous three years of the joint showcase held in Saskatchewan and are ecstatic to be able to provide this wonderful opportunity for our elite athletes once again,” said McIntyre.

Three teams will be selected from both leagues and pull the top 60 players from both the MJHL and the SJHL.

Players, ages 16 to 20, will be chosen by the coaches from their leagues and one team will have players 18 and younger while other two teams will have players 20 and younger.

Each team will play two games.

The SJHL said that having a showcase gives players a chance to move to post-secondary hockey opportunities in university sports, ACAC and NCAA levels with 25 per cent of players last season going on to a post secondary hockey life.

Last year marked the retirement of Bill Chow as commissioner of the SJHL and the league has now taken a chance to update its goals, aiming at being the top Junior A league in western Canada.

Pre-season play starts Aug. 29 across the league, with Kindersley versus La Ronge in Saskatoon, Nipawin hosting Flin Flon, Melville facing off against Yorkton, Weyburn taking on Niverville of the MJHL, and Bonnyville (Alberta) in opposition to Battlefords at the Access Communications Centre.

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panews@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @princealbertNOW