2017-18 SJHL Season

This is the 2017-18 Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League season. This is the league's 50th season.

Humboldt Broncos Bus Crash
The league was rocked by the news of a bus crash on April 6, 2018. The Humboldt Broncos were traveling to Nipawin to play game five of their semifinal series against the Nipawin Hawks when the team bus crashed with a semi-truck resulting in the death of 16 people and critically injuring 2 more. The bus was reported to be carrying 29 occupants including the driver. A single occupant was in the truck. A 15th victim later died at hospital. Several days later a 16th victim succumbed to their injuries. For more detailed information please see Humboldt Broncos bus crash. The league suspended the playoffs after the incident and held a conference call on Wednesday April 11th to decide how to proceed with the balance of the post season within the league and the national play downs for the Royal Bank Cup. The meeting unanimously voted to continue the playoffs with the two remaining teams playing in the league finals.

Franchise changes

 * none

Format
The top ten teams in the league standings qualify for the playoffs. The top 6 teams get a first round bye and the 7th seed plays the 10th seed and the 8th seed plays the 9th seed in best-of-three series. The first round winners are re-seeded 7th and 8th. The balance of the tournament is best-of-seven. The division winners are seeded 1-2-3 (based on points and tie-breakers) for the quarterfinal round only. The semifinal match up and home ice for the last two rounds are based on points.

The Canalta Cup winning team will advance to the 2018 Anavet Cup with the Manitoba Junior Hockey League champion for the Western Region spot in the 2018 Royal Bank Cup which is being held in Chilliwack, British Columbia as the Western Canada Cup format has been abandoned by the four leagues that participated in that tournament.

The league suspended the league playoffs after the bus crash. On April 11th the Board of Governors voted unaminously to continue the playoffs with the Nipawin Hawks advancing to the finals to play the Estevan Bruins.

Preliminary Round

 * Weyburn Red Wings defeated Melville Millionaires 2 games to 1
 * Flin Flon Bombers defeated Notre Dame Hounds 2 games to 1

Quarterfinals

 * Battlefords North Stars defeated Weyburn Red Wings 4 games to none
 * Estevan Bruins defeated Kindersley Klippers 4 games to none
 * Nipawin Hawks defeated Flin Flon Bombers 4 games to 1
 * Humboldt Broncos defeated Melfort Mustangs 4 games to 1

Semifinals

 * Estevan Bruins defeated Battlefords North Stars 4 games to 1
 * Nipawin Hawks vs Humboldt Broncos Nipawin led 3 games to 1 (series stopped after bus crash)

Final

 * Nipawin Hawks defeated Estevan Bruins 4 games to 3