The Meota Combines will run their end of season raffle in the near future. (Image Credit: Byron Hildebrand Photography/Facebook)

By Ryan Lambert

Saskatchewan Prairie Hockey League

Meota Combines look back on the 2025-26 season after second straight finals loss

Mar 30, 2026 | 6:15 PM

The Saskatchewan Prairie Hockey League (SPHL) season came to an end recently with the Neilburg Monarchs winning their second straight championship after taking down the Meota Combines 4-3 in the winner-take-all Game 5 in the finals.

“Pretty tough ending to the season,” said forward and team manager Aaron Cadrin. 

The Combines dealt with some injuries throughout this campaign, which made it tough to have a consistent roster.

“It’s so unpredictable. Last year, two of our three best players were hurt for the finals and this year, we were missing some pretty key players during the finals,” said Cadrin, who made it clear that they aren’t using the tough injury luck as an excuse. 

There was also a lot of turnover from the previous season to this one, so a good chunk of the year was players getting used to each other’s style, but Cadrin said more familiarity next year could be key. 

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“Especially with those young guys, some of them improved substantially from the start of the year, adjusting to senior hockey. It’s a different game. More physical, more like a high awareness, hockey IQ game compared to maybe just a speed game that they were playing in minor hockey,” said Cadrin. 

“I think a lot of those young guys had a lot of fun. I think they’re looking for coming back next year and they got a taste of potential success and I hope that’s a motivation here in the off season.” 

Despite it being a tough end to the season, Cadrin is still proud of what his squad was able to do this year and said the team is still in good hands moving forward. 

“We’re going to be competitive for the next five years, just as we were the last five years, that’s always a positive.” 

Cadrin made sure to give thanks to everybody involved with the Combines throughout the year.  

“We just want to thank all our fans and sponsors for everything they do for us. I think (it’s) getting tougher and more expensive than ever to run a successful senior hockey team, and it seems like every year we’re getting more support,” said Cadrin. “(There were) almost 1000 people at that last game and that would hit max capacity at pretty much any barn in Saskatchewan.” 

He also acknowledged the teams at the arena who ran a smooth gameday operation.

“Want to thank Barb Heidt and her team of workers and volunteers for everything they do… She’s always finding eight or 10 workers every game and helps them line everything up and organize everything and look at programs and all that. So, she does a lot of good work for us and we’re so grateful for that.” 

The Combines will be running their end of season raffle in the near future, with more details being released on their social media in the coming days. 

— 

Ryan.Lambert@pattisonmedia.com