The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
The Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League has announced a reduced regular season, a divisional realignment, and a revamped playoff format as a result of its Annual General Meeting held over the weekend in Saskatoon. The schedule has been reduced from sixty to fifty-five games, which allows for more weekend home dates. "We have a better ratio of weekend games as opposed to weekday games with this format and we, as a league, feel the games are now more accessible to a greater number of the fans, especially those with families," commented SJHL President Laury Ryan. Included in the fifty-five games is the three game September Showcase Saskatoon Tournament. "We had a great response to the preseason scholarship tournament last year; and now it's time to take the next step. We want the games to count in the standings and that should lend to more emotion on the ice. The kids did a great job last year showcasing their ability; but this should make it easier for them to 'get up' for the games," added Ryan. September Showcase Saskatoon takes place from the 23rd to the 26th. It's likely that teams will face competition from outside their own division. Meanwhile, the Humboldt Broncos are moving to the Sherwood Conference in an effort balance the Sherwood and Dodge to six teams each. In doing so, the Broncos still face natural geographical foes Melfort and Nipawin more often than other teams in the Dodge in an effort to maintain the historical rivalry. The SJHL is also eliminating the crossover playoff format that, previously, saw the top three teams in each division qualify for postseason play along with the top two remaining clubs, regardless of division. In its place will be the Playoff Selection Series. Each of the top three teams in each division will play a round robin with the top team receiving the right to pick or choose its first round opponent. None of the three teams will be eliminated in this format and home ice advantage as determined through the regular season remains in effect. While the top three teams are battling head-to-head, the fourth and fifth place teams in each division will now play a best of seven series with the loser being eliminated and the winner moving on. That would leave eight teams in contention for the Membercare Cup; and the usual inter-division playoff style would resume; the only difference being the Playoff Selection Series winner in each division getting to choose who they'd face in the divisional semi-finals. "We've discovered that playoff hockey really generates excitement amongst the fans. What we are doing is increasing the playoff round with more intense action and giving more people the opportunity to see playoff hockey in their respective local areas," says Ryan. In other league news, the Battlefords North Stars have been awarded the All-Star/Prospects Game. That will take place on December 19th, 2004. Other dates to keep in mind included the beginning of training camp, which is to be September 1st for all teams. The exhibition season commences on September 3rd. The regular season is two weeks after that, on September 17th, with a home-and-home series between divisional rivals. The Christmas Break is between December 23rd and December 28th. The regular season ends on February 22nd, 2005 and the first round of the playoffs kicks off on February 25th. The latest possible end date for the Membercare Cup finals would be April 20th.
