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 opened the curtain on the 2008-09 regular season Friday night with major news regarding the loopÕs ultimate prize. The SJHL is pleased to announce a new partnership agreement with Saskatchewan credit unions, which includes naming rights to the league championship trophy. The trophy will now be known as the Credit Union Cup. ÒCredit unions have a proud history of supporting SJHL teams across our province. Saskatchewan credit unions share a common vision of growing communities, so the credit union system is excited about the opportunity to sponsor the Credit Union Cup,Ó said Keith Nixon, Executive Vice President of Democratic Support at SaskCentral. ÒThe Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League is extremely pleased to team up with Saskatchewan credit unions,Ó said SJHL President Laury Ryan. ÒOur own organization is similar in that we service the province from north, south, east, and west. ItÕs a fitting honor for us to partner the SJHL champion with the Credit Union Cup.Ó The two-time defending Credit Union Cup champion Humboldt Broncos will raise their banners in front of the hometown crowd on Friday, September 19 against Melfort. The Broncos will try for the extremely difficult three-peat for SJHL championships and the league, as a whole, will look to extend a streak that has seen five teams play in the finals of the RBC Cup in the last six years. The Weyburn Red Wings will begin the season with 13 straight road games as they continue to await completion of renovations to Crescent Point Place, formerly known as the Colosseum. The Wings wonÕt play on home ice until October 17, when they entertain the Notre Dame Hounds. On Friday night, the Kindersley Klippers began defence of their Sherwood Conference title by hosting Battlefords. The Stars hosted the Klippers on Saturday. La Ronge was home to Nipawin on Friday, with the Hawks returning the favour on Saturday. The Red Wings, as tradition dictates, were in Yorkton for the Terrier home opener on Friday. Melville and Estevan played a home and home with the locally named Eagle Drilling Bruins getting the home date on Friday and the Millionaires giving their fans a first glimpse of the new squad on Saturday. Flin Flon played their home opener on Friday against the Melfort Mustangs, who wonÕt play their first home game until a week from Saturday (September 20) when they welcome the Humboldt Broncos. Notre DameÕs home opener was Sunday against the Red Wings. All 12 clubs appear to have had a great deal of success over the summer months with recruiting efforts, which can only lead to continued parity in the SJHL as the battle will be fierce and intense all season long in the fight for conference positions to determine first round byes and who does and who does not qualify for the playoffs in late February. Avid league fans who make attempts to view games in multiple centres should also circle a date or two in Estevan and Melville. The home rinks for the Bruins and Millionaires are in the twilights years of their respective lifespans as the two communities are eyeing new facilities for their SJHL teams to call homes within the next couple of years.
