Newly formed senior hockey league aims to renew small town rivalries

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• Asquith Admirals (Sask. West Hockey League) 
• Biggar Nationals (Sask. West Hockey League) 
• Blaine Lake Raiders (Sask. Prairie Hockey League) 
• Delisle Bruins (Sask. Valley Hockey League) 
• Hafford Mustangs (Sask. Prairie Hockey League) 
• Langham Vikings (Sask. Prairie Hockey League) 
• Outlook Ice Hawks (Sask. Valley Hockey League) 
• Perdue Pirates (Sask. Prairie Hockey League) 
• Radisson Wheat Kings (Sask. Prairie Hockey League) 

Senior Hockey

Newly formed senior hockey league aims to renew small town rivalries

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Two members of the Twin Rivers Hockey League in the Dalmeny Sabres and Waldheim Warriors were also rumoured to make the jump to the ECHL but according to Rafoss, both clubs were holding off from the move due to their own reasons. 

He added that the league is priding itself on the proximity of the clubs from one another, as the furthest distance between two teams is less than a two-hour drive. 

“Travel is always a big thing with senior hockey nowadays. Some of the teams, in the leagues they were playing in before, they were driving upwards of two-and-a-half, three hours and even beyond that sometimes just to go play a game across the province, which is pretty insane.” 

He continued that the league radius has not been set in stone yet, however he expects it to be in the ballpark of 200 kilometres. With that though, he’s open to adding more teams to the ECHL in the future, but they can’t be too far out of the way of the other clubs. 

“This is a working man’s league, right? Everybody’s got a job and so above all, we want to make sure that we can have a place for everybody to play and everybody enjoys playing, but also be mindful of the fact that everyone has got to work.” 

As for the next steps for the league, Rafoss said he and the other league officials are going to finish writing the constitution, iron out some of the rules surrounding import players, and develop a league website. A schedule for the inaugural season will be constructed sometime in August and is expected to be announced in September. 

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loganc.lehmann@pattisonmedia.com