The Big River First Nation hosted the U of S Huskies and U of R Cougars for a pair of games this week, Friday the SJHL will play their first game in the community. (Submitted photo/Derek Klein-Whitefish)

By Clark Stork

Big River Bound

SJHL set to play first game at Jim Neilson Sports Complex

Sep 15, 2023 | 2:17 PM

Hosting out-of-town hockey teams isn’t new for the Big River First Nation, but the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL) has yet to make a stop in the 3,000-person community, until Friday night.

The Nipawin Hawks will take on the La Ronge Ice Wolves at the Jim Neilson Sports Complex as part of the team’s preseason schedule.

The Jim Neilson Sports Complex was opened in September last year. The 1,500-seat arena has hosted the Western Hockey League’s Saskatoon Blades and Prince Albert Raiders for games, plus the community just had the University of Saskatchewan Huskies and University of Regina Cougars play twice there this week. Big River First Nation CEO Derek Klein-Whitefish said the Hawks and Ice Wolves game is capping an exciting week in their community.

“We hosted the Blades and Raiders, on the weekend we hosted the U of R and U of S’s doubleheader, now we are hosting the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League game to cap an action-packed week,” Klein-Whitefish said.

The Jim Neilson Sports Complex houses more than the arena, there is a soccer field, and lacrosse is available on the First Nation as well.

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Klein-Whitefish said the facility is state of the art, and being two hours north of Saskatoon the arena and complex is a standout in the area the community is extremely proud of.

“Whether kids want to play hockey, soccer, lacrosse, whatever, it’s a fit for all,” he added.

Klein-Whitefish also said it’s exciting to have a couple of local players on the Hawks, plus a couple of First Nation players on the Ice Wolves roster. He added the local youth can see some stars in person and up close.

“It’s going to be exciting,” he said. “Deegan Wapass was born and raised on the reservation and will be playing on the Hawks, plus Konnor Watson is from nearby, La Ronge also has a couple of First Nation kids, so it will be good for the community to get out and see some of their own playing at a high level.”

Nipawin is 2-0 in the preseason after wins over Melfort earlier this week. The Hawks will travel to La Ronge on Saturday to cap their exhibition schedule.

The community will host a tailgate park starting at 5 p.m. sponsored by Lake Country Co-op, ahead of puck drop there will be an on-ice ceremony.

Faceoff is at 7 p.m.