Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League

History

The current version of the SJHL was preceded by a separate league with the same name that operated from 1948 to 1966.

The modern SJHL was formed in July 1968 as a result of the Western Canada Hockey League (WCHL) splitting away from the Canadian Amateur Hockey Association (CAHA) and affiliating with the rival Canadian Hockey Association led by Ron Butlin. CAHA president Lloyd Pollock arranged meetings across Western Canada to outline the CAHA's development plan for teams which had remained within the CAHA. Later that month, he approved a series of exhibition games for teams in the Ontario Hockey Association to play the Regina Pats and Weyburn Red Wings, after Regina and Weyburn had asked for assistance in forming a new Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League. Pollock also laid out plans to make player transfers easier between provinces to support the Saskatchewan teams.

The league was originally known as the Saskatchewan Amateur Junior Hockey League until 1973. They re-adopted the "Amateur" in their name in 1980 and carried it until the 1987–88 season, when they dropped the "Amateur" again. They were one of the original Tier II Junior A leagues in the realignment of 1970. Their first two seasons they were eligible for the Memorial Cup.

Humboldt Broncos bus crash

Main article: Humboldt Broncos bus crash

On April 6, 2018 the Humboldt Broncos team bus suffered a fatal crash on their way to the team's semi-final playoff game against the Nipawin Hawks. Ten players, two coaches, an athletic therapist, two employees of a local radio station, and the bus driver were killed in the collision. The remaining passengers were injured, some critically. The SJHL playoffs were postponed as a result (the Hawks were leading the series 3–1). The league, at the request of the Broncos, resumed the playoffs on April 15, with the Hawks advancing to the finals to meet the waiting Estevan Bruins. SJHL President Bill Chow called the incident the league's "worst nightmare".

In the wake of the Humboldt Broncos bus crash, TSN aired a national broadcast of the Bronco's 2018–19 home opener, the team's first regular season game following the tragedy.

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic

Main article: COVID-19 pandemic in Saskatchewan

On March 13, 2020, pursuant to the suspension of all sanctioned activity by Hockey Canada and the CJHL due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the remainder of the 2019–20 SJHL season and all associated championships were suspended until further notice. The league championship was not awarded.

The league resumed play for a 2020–21 season in November 2020, with the Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) allowing for limited in-person attendance (150 spectators). However, the Flin Flon Bombers were forced to suspend operations on November 12, 2020 until at least the new year, after Manitoba issued a "Code Red" circuit breaker that ordered the closure of non-essential businesses and recreational facilities. The team considered the possibility of conducting all hockey operations out of nearby Creighton, Saskatchewan, but were unable to reach agreements with the SHA and Manitoba Health that would allow them to resume operations. In turn, the SJHL was forced to suspend play on November 27, as Saskatchewan ordered the suspension of all group and team sports activities.

In February 2021, the league submitted a return-to-play proposal to the Saskatchewan government that would have involved as many as three hub cities. Despite other provinces such as Alberta having allowed their Junior A leagues to continue, Saskatchewan continued to maintain its prohibitions on sport. The SJHL and its teams have faced growing financial issues due to cancelled games and other events, prompting the provincial government to provide a $1 million relief package to be divided between its teams. On March 23, 2021, the SJHL announced that its return-to-play proposal had been rejected, citing concerns surrounding the current state of the pandemic in Saskatchewan. The SJHL therefore announced that the 2020–21 season had been cancelled and will not be resumed. The league championship was not awarded for the second season in a row.

Media

In January 2019, the league announced a broadcasting deal with SaskTel, under which a game will be carried on its television service per-month for the remainder of the season, as well as coverage of the league final.

Teams

The SJHL fields twelve teams, eleven in Saskatchewan and one in Flin Flon, Manitoba, a community on the border between the provinces. The Bobcats based in Lloydminster, Saskatchewan (on the Saskatchewan–Alberta border) elect to play in the Alberta Junior Hockey League. In 2025, the Notre Dame Hounds franchise relocated to Warman and was rebranded as the Warman Wolverines. Receiving a new sponsorship from Bunge Global for the 2025–26 season, the Viterra Division was renamed the Bunge Division.

Nutrien Division UPL North Division | shape-outlineD = black

| mini-file = Saskatchewan-map.png | mini-width = 105 | mini-height = 86 | minipog-gx = | minipog-gy =

| label-posD = right | mark-sizeD = 6

| shape-color1 = soft red | mark-coord1 = | mark-title1 = Estevan Bruins | mark-image1 = Inside_Affinity_Place.jpg | mark-description1 = Affinity Place Estevan, SK

| mark-coord2 = | mark-title2 = Melville Millionaires | mark-image2 = Melville_Water_Tower_(8032913848).jpg | mark-description2 = Melville, Saskatchewan | label-pos2 = right

| mark-coord3 = | mark-title3 = Weyburn Red Wings | mark-image3 = Weyburn_POOL_(126040461).jpg | mark-description3 = Weyburn, SK

| mark-coord4 = | mark-title4 = Yorkton Terriers | mark-image4 = YorktonDownTownStreet.JPG | mark-description4 = Yorkton, SK

| shape-color5 = Blue | mark-coord5 = | mark-title5 = Battlefords North Stars | mark-image5 = North_Battleford_City_Hall.jpg | mark-description5 = North Battleford, SK

| shape-color6 = Blue | mark-coord6 = | mark-title6 = Humboldt Broncos | mark-image6 = Humboldt_Sign_012.JPG | mark-description6 = Humboldt, SK

| shape-color7 = Blue | mark-coord7 = | mark-title7 = Kindersley Klippers | mark-image7 = Kindersley,_Saskatchewan.jpg | mark-description7 = Kindersley, SK

| shape-color8 = Blue | mark-coord8 = | mark-title8 = Notre Dame Hounds | mark-image8 = SK_RM_129_Bratt's_Lake.svg | mark-description8 = Warman, SK | label-pos8 = left

| shape-color9 = Yellow | mark-coord9 = | mark-title9 = Flin Flon Bombers | mark-image9 = Main_Street_of_Flin_Flon_2.jpg | mark-description9 = Flin Flon, MB | label-pos9 = right

| shape-color10 = Yellow | mark-coord10 = | mark-title10 = La Ronge Ice Wolves | mark-image10 = Lac_la_Ronge_island.jpg | mark-description10 = La Ronge, SK

| shape-color11 = Yellow | mark-coord11 = | mark-title11 = Melfort Mustangs | mark-image11 = SK_RM_428_Star_City.svg | mark-description11 = Melfort, SK

| shape-color12 = Yellow | mark-coord12 = | mark-title12 = Nipawin Hawks | mark-image12 = SK_RM_487_Nipawin.svg | mark-description12 = Nipawin, SK

Former

• Lebret Eagles
• Lloydminster Lancers
• Moose Jaw Canucks
• Notre Dame Hounds
• Prince Albert Raiders
• Regina Blues
• Regina Pats
• Regina Silver Foxes
• Saskatoon Olympics
• Saskatoon Rage
• Saskatoon Titans
• Swift Current Broncos (SJHL)
• Minot Top Guns

League champions

As of 2023, the championship team is awarded the Canterra Seeds Cup following a post-season playoff tournament. As of 2022, SJHL championship team advances directly to the Junior A national championship. Prior to 2022, the SJHL champions competed with the MJHL champions for the ANAVET Cup with the winner advancing to represent the region at the national competition. In 2022, Hockey Canada moved to a 10-team format for the Centennial Cup, including the champions from each of the 9 leagues that make up the CJHL, and the host team, thus eliminating intervening regional contests for the ANAVET Cup, the Fred Page Cup and the Doyle Cup.

Timeline of teams

• 1968 – Current version of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League is founded
• 1968 – Moose Jaw Canucks, Weyburn Red Wings and Regina Pats rejoin league from WCJHL
• 1970 – Regina Pat Blues replace Regina Pats who join WCHL
• 1970 – Melville Millionaires rejoin league
• 1970 – Humboldt Broncos join league
• 1970 – Notre Dame Hounds join league
• 1971 – Estevan Bruins rejoin league
• 1971 – Prince Albert Raiders join league
• 1972 – Yorkton Terriers join league
• 1973 – Battleford Barons join league
• 1974 – Swift Current Broncos join league
• 1976 – Notre Dame Hounds leave league
• 1982 – Prince Albert Raiders leave league to join Western Hockey League
• 1982 – Lloydminster Lancers join league
• 1982 – Regina Pat Blues and Saskatoon J's fold
• 1983 – Swift Current Broncos become Swift Current Indians
• 1983 – Battleford Barons become North Battleford Stars
• 1984 – Moose Jaw Canucks fold to make way for the Western Hockey League franchise Moose Jaw Warriors
• 1984 – Flin Flon Bombers rejoin league as Creighton Bombers
• 1986 – Swift Current Indians fold to make way for the Western Hockey League franchise Swift Current Broncos
• 1986 – Creighton Bombers become the Flin Flon Bombers
• 1986 – Nipawin Hawks join league
• 1987 – Notre Dame Hounds rejoin league
• 1987 – Minot Americans join league
• 1988 – Lloydminster Lancers leave league to join Alberta Junior Hockey League and become the Lloydminster Blazers
• 1988 – Melfort Mustangs join league
• 1991 – Saskatoon Titans join league
• 1993 – Saskatoon Titans relocate to Kindersley and become the Kindersley Klippers
• 1993 – Lebret Eagles join league
• 1994 – Minot Americans become Minot Top Guns
• 1997 – Minot Top Guns relocate to Beardy's 97 aboriginal reserve and become Beardy's Rage
• 1998 – Beardy's Rage relocate to Saskatoon and become Saskatoon Rage
• 1998 – La Ronge Ice Wolves join league
• 1999 – Saskatoon Rage fold
• 2001 – Lebret Eagles fold
• 2025 – Notre Dame Hounds relocate to Warman and become the Warman Wolverines

References

Additional reading

References

1. "Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League [1948–1966] history and statistics".
2. (July 5, 1968). "CAHA, Juniors Meet Sunday". Winnipeg Free Press.
3. (July 13, 1968). "CAHA Gives Special Concessions To West". Winnipeg Free Press.
4. "15 dead in Canadian junior hockey bus crash". ESPN.com.
5. (2018-06-22). "Humboldt Broncos Home Opener to air live on TSN and CTV Saskatchewan". TSN.ca.
6. (2018-09-12). "In wake of tragic bus crash, the Humboldt Broncos' opener will be broadcast across North America".
7. (March 12, 2020). "CJHL announces cancellation of 2020 season, until further notice, due to COVID-19 pandemic".
8. "Sask. Junior Hockey League to continue coronavirus-shortened playoffs via video game simulation". CBC News.
9. (2020-03-12). "The SJHL playoffs suspended following directive from Hockey Canada".
10. (2021-03-03). "'Every team is in a tough spot': SJHL facing financial uncertainty as return to play talks continue".
11. "SJHL season paused until 2021 due to COVID-19".
12. (2020-11-12). "Flin Flon Bombers pause season as Manitoba enters code red".
13. Westhaver, Eric. (November 24, 2020). "Bombers to pause play, postpone games until New Year: SJHL".
14. "Coronavirus: New Saskatchewan public health measures for restaurants, sports teams".
15. (2021-02-16). "Sask.'s COVID-19 restrictions to remain until March 19".
16. (2021-01-15). "Sask. provides $4M to support WHL, SJHL".
17. (2021-03-23). "SJHL return to play proposal denied by province".
18. Cairns, John. "SJHL coming to SaskTel Max TV".
19. (22 February 2025). "Deep dive into why the Notre Dame Hounds are giving up Jr. A hockey". paherald.sk.ca.
20. (September 3, 2025). "SJHL and Bunge celebrate the new Bunge Division".
21. . (16 March 2023). ["SJHL unveils Canterra Seeds Cup"](https://canterra.com/blog/news/sjhl-unveils-canterra-seeds-cup/). *Canterra Seeds*.
22. (22 March 2022). "Dudley Hewitt Cup cancelled, SIJHL champ will go directly to Centennial Cup". Dougall Media.