This is the 2020-21 Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League season. This is the league's 53rd season.
Resuming of Play[]
The province was less severely hit by the COVID-19 pandemic than some of the more populated provinces and appeared to be on track for a late September start.
The league resumed play for a 2020-21 season in November 2020,[1] with the Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) allowing for limited in-person attendance (150 spectators).[2]
Flin Flon Suspending Play[]
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.[3][4]
League Suspends Play[]
In turn, the SJHL was forced to suspend play on November 27, as Saskatchewan ordered the suspension of all group and team sports activities.[5]
Possible Restart of Play[]
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.[6] 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.[7]
Cancellation of Season[]
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.[8][9]
Membership Changes[]
None
Membership[]
| Viterra Division | ||||||||||
| Team | City | Arena | Last Joined | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Estevan Bruins | Estevan, Saskatchewan | Affiinity Place | 1971 | |||||||
| Melville Millionaires | Melville, Saskatchewan | Horizon Credit Union Centre | 1970 | |||||||
| Weyburn Red Wings | Weyburn, Saskatchewan | Crescent Point Place | 1968 | |||||||
| Yorkton Terriers | Yorkton, Saskatchewan | Farrell Agencies Arena | 1972 | |||||||
| Global Ag Risk Division | ||||||||||
| Team | City | Arena | Last Joined | |||||||
| Battlefords North Stars | North Battleford, Saskatchewan | North Battleford Civic Centre | 1973 | |||||||
| Humboldt Broncos | Humboldt, Saskatchewan | Elgar Peterson Arena | 1970 | |||||||
| Kindersley Klippers | Kindersley, Saskatchewan | West Central Events Centre | 1991 | |||||||
| Notre Dame Hounds | Wilcox, Saskatchewan | Duncan McNeill Arena | 1987 | |||||||
| Team | City | Arena | Last Joined | |||||||
| Flin Flon Bombers | Flin Flon, Manitoba | Whitney Forum | 1984 | |||||||
| La Ronge Ice Wolves | La Ronge, Saskatchewan | Mel Hegland Arena | 1998 | |||||||
| Melfort Mustangs | Melfort, Saskatchewan | Northern Lights Palace | 1988 | |||||||
| Nipawin Hawks | Nipawin, Saskatchewan | Centennial Arena | 1985 | |||||||
Standings[]
Viterra Division[]
| Team | GP | W | L | OL | SL | GF | GA | Pts | % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Estevan Bruins | 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 26 | 19 | 9 | .750 |
| Melville Millionaires | 6 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 24 | 19 | 8 | .667 |
| Yorkton Terriers | 6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 27 | 27 | 7 | .583 |
| Weyburn Red Wings | 5 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 9 | 21 | 2 | .200 |
Sherwood Division[]
| Team | GP | W | L | OL | SL | GF | GA | Pts | % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| La Ronge Ice Wolves | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 24 | 18 | 8 | .800 |
| Nipawin Hawks | 6 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 19 | 16 | 8 | .667 |
| Melfort Mustangs | 5 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 15 | 12 | 4 | .400 |
| Flin Flon Bombers | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 11 | 0 | .000 |
Global Ag Risk Division[]
| Team | GP | W | L | OL | SL | GF | GA | Pts | % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Humboldt Broncos | 6 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 28 | 19 | 10 | .833 |
| Kindersley Klippers | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 6 | 4 | .667 |
| Notre Dame Hounds | 5 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 13 | 22 | 3 | .300 |
| Battlefords North Stars | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 17 | 0 | .000 |
References[]
- ↑ https://regina.ctvnews.ca/every-team-is-in-a-tough-spot-sjhl-facing-financial-uncertainty-as-return-to-play-talks-continue-1.5331394
- ↑ https://globalnews.ca/news/7504294/coronavirus-sjhl-season-2021/%7Caccess-date=2020-12-15%7Cwebsite=Global News|language=en-US}}
- ↑ https://winnipeg.ctvnews.ca/flin-flon-bombers-pause-season-as-manitoba-enters-code-red-1.5187088}
- ↑ https://www.thereminder.ca/sports/bombers/bombers-to-pause-play-postpone-games-until-new-year-sjhl-1.24244275
- ↑ https://globalnews.ca/news/7484188/coronavirus-saskatchewan-restaurants-sports-teams/
- ↑ https://regina.ctvnews.ca/sask-s-covid-19-restrictions-to-remain-until-march-19-1.5311281
- ↑ https://regina.ctvnews.ca/sask-provides-4m-to-support-whl-sjhl-1.5268434
- ↑ https://regina.ctvnews.ca/sjhl-return-to-play-proposal-denied-by-province-1.5358905
- ↑ https://www.sjhl.ca/sjhl-announces-cancellation-of-2020-21-season
| Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League | |
|---|---|
| Current Member Teams | Battlefords North Stars • Estevan Bruins • Flin Flon Bombers • Humboldt Broncos • Kindersley Klippers • La Ronge Ice Wolves • Melfort Mustangs • Melville Millionaires • Nipawin Hawks • Warman Wolverines • Weyburn Red Wings • Yorkton Terriers |
| Former Member Teams | Lebret Eagles • Lloydminster Lancers • Moose Jaw Canucks • Notre Dame Hounds • Prince Albert Raiders • Regina Blues • Regina Silver Foxes • Saskatoon Olympics • Saskatoon Rage (formerly Minot Americans/Minot Top Guns/Beardy's Rage) • Swift Current Indians |
| CJHL: Anavet Cup • Centennial Cup • Abbott Cup (retired in 1999) • Western Canada Cup (retired in 2017) | |