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.
Here are the highlights from the recent SJHL Annual General Meeting: SCHEDULE There will be no changes to the SJHL regular season schedule.Ê Each team will play 55-games with 26-home games, 26-road games, and 3-September Showcase games.Ê The regular season begins on friday, September 16th and will conclude on February 15th.Ê The SJHL All-Star Game will be held in Humboldt on January 15th. The playoff format will not change, although a new tiebreaker system will be instituted in the Selection Series.Ê The sudden death overtime will be eliminated in favour of ties.Ê The move is designed to ensure further competitiveness deeper into the Series.Ê If, at the end of the Series, a tiebreaker is needed then the Saskatchewan Hockey Association rules governing tiebreaker rules will be enacted. The SJHLÊhas also taken steps to ensure the Credential Cup champion has sufficient rest going into the Anavet Cup inter-branch series against the Manitoba champion.Ê There is also an increase in the number of days available with which to play the Credential Cup championship series. To show league wide support for the Credential Cup winner, a league championship banquet will be held in the home of the SJHL champion. Among other things, this banquet will provide the other members to throw send-off party as they get set for the Anavet Cup. SEPTEMBER SHOWCASE The SJHL will conduct the September Showcase for the third consecutive year. This event is designed to attract NCAA scouts to one central location to view all twelve clubs and provide educational opportunities for SJHL athletes. More details will be available in the coming months on this event, however the Credit Union Centre has been signed on for games on Saturday and Sunday.Ê The event takes place from Thursday, September 22nd to Sunday, September 25th. Each team will play at the Credit Union Centre once with other games to be held at the Agri-Twins.Ê The Agri-Twins was the site during the inaugural year of 2003-04.Ê WORLD JUNIOR 'A' HOCKEY CHALLENGE The SJHL Board of Governors has given approval to prepare a bid for the World Junior 'A' Hockey Challenge.Ê The Saskatchewan site(s) is/are yet to be determined.ÊThe bid and letter of intent is being prepared and must be submitted to Hockey Canada by August 15th. The World Junior 'A' Hockey Challenge will bring the major international powers to a tournament setting in the Fall of 2006.Ê Canada will ice two clubs (Canada East and Canada West). The SJHL will be a part of Canada West along with All-Stars from theÊSuperior International Junior Hockey League, Manitoba Junior Hockey League, Alberta Junior Hockey League, and British Columbia Hockey League.ÊMore details concerning coach and player selections as well as narrowing down a host site(s) will be made available in the coming months. PLAYER REGISTRATION The Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League fully endorses the Canadian Hockey Developmental Model, which restricts the use of sixteen year-olds in junior hockey. Further to that, the number of available player cards has been increased from 21 to 23. That means, teams must be cut down to a registered player card list of 25 on December 1st. That numberÊwasÊreduced to 21 on January 10th. The use of permanent Affiliated Players is being eliminated.Ê In the past, it was standard practice to 'sign' a twenty year-old graduating player to an 'AP' card in order to have a roster larger than 21. Thus, the increase in cards from 21 to 23. This does not eliminate affiliated players, but rather gives more meaning to the term. Players can still play in the SJHL, but must also play regularly at the Midget or Junior 'B' level as well. OFFICIALS The Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League is pleased to officially welcome Doug Lawrence as the Director of Officiating.Ê Lawrence was eased into the role through a transition season in 2004-05 by working with the retiring Wes Smith. One of Lawrence's first priorities will be to look at implementing a way to increase the recruiting, development and marketing of young prospective SJHL officials.
