North Stars' brass, Brayden Klimosko and Rob Holoien (second and third from left) at the Annual General Meeting held in Nipawin over the weekend. (Facebook/SJHL)

By Martin Martinson

New rules

Rule changes to playoffs, hybrid icing headline SJHL AGM

Jun 10, 2019 | 1:51 PM

Team coaches and management of the SJHL’s 12 organizations convened together in Nipawin Friday for the league’s Annual General Meeting (AGM).

Headlining the topics discussed at the meeting included a few prominent rule changes heading into next season.

Amongst the rule changes are:

· The removal of the wildcard. (no more Survivor Series)

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· A simple 1-8 playoff format regardless of divisional standing.

· Hybrid Icing implemented.

SJHL President Bill Chow, said the decision to eliminate the Survivor Series was a topic discussed for a while.

“The wildcard has been discussed for a number of years as to whether it’s financially viable or not,” Chow said, before adding it no longer appeared to be the case.

“It just seemed like the four teams in the wildcard were the four teams with the most travel distance between them the last few years,” he said. “It didn’t make it financially viable to be financially successful.”

Chow said the change to a hybrid icing format, from the previous no-touch icing, can contribute to increased safety as races to the puck will be decided at the faceoff dots.

He also said the change should help make the transition to other leagues easier for the players, citing both the NCAA and WHL. Amongst other higher leagues, each use the hybrid format.

North Stars’ Head Coach and General Manager, Brayden Klimosko, said he likes the changes being made by the league.

Klimosko called the move to the new playoff format based 1-8 on points regardless of division, “very beneficial to the league.”

“You shouldn’t get punished because you’re second in your division,” Klimosko said. “If you’re the second-best team in the league and you’re second in your division, you should get that spot.”

The Estevan Bruins finished atop the Viterra Division in 2019, earning them the third-seed overall and home ice advantage, despite finishing with the seventh-best record. The new format will eliminate circumstances like that going forward.

Klimosko said the elimination of the Survivor Series is also a welcome sight, because it will allow the playoffs to begin sooner. This year, the North Stars had 10 days between their final regular season game and Game 1 of their opening-round playoff series.

“The wildcard series basically pushed our playoffs back,” he said. “[With this change,] we’ll be on par with Manitoba as to how our series are run, so maybe by the Anavet Cup we might have a little bit more time or more energy so that we’re ready to go for that series.”

The 2019-20 SJHL season will begin in September.

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Martin.Martinson@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: MartyMartyPxP1