The SPHL and SWHL finals are underway (Byron Hildebrand/Facebook)

By Austin Mattes

Senior Hockey

Neilburg in hunt for first SPHL title, Wilkie looks for redemption ahead of SWHL finals

Mar 14, 2025 | 6:00 AM

Things are starting to heat up across senior hockey leagues in the Battlefords and surrounding areas.

In the Sask. Prairie Hockey League (SPHL), the Neilburg Monarchs currently have a 2-1 series lead over the three-time defending champion Meota Combines. For the Sask. West Hockey League (SWHL), the finals start this weekend with the Wilkie Outlaws taking on the Edam Three Stars, while looking to get redemption after falling short of the title last year. Then in senior provincials, the Edam Three Stars and Wilkie Outlaws are both on the hunt for a championship in separate divisions.

SPHL

The finals started off strong for the Combines as they won Game 1 in overtime 5-4 to take the series lead. Games 2 and 3, though, is where the Monarchs started to take over. The Monarchs, who are in the search for their first SPHL title, won Game 2 convincingly 12-4 to tie the series and then shutout the Combines in Game 3, 4-0.

Monarchs assistant coach Shawn Hein said that the biggest key for them to continue their success is focusing on the task at hand.

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“We just have to keep our head down and play our game. Not really worry about the end result and not think past the game we are playing. Make sure that we just try to handle the task at hand,” he said

Despite the tough results in the past two games for the Combines, veteran forward Aaron Cadrin says he still believes in his team.

“I feel that we’ve still got a team that can get the job done. We just need to stay out of the box, when things don’t get rough and chippy and we stay disciplined, we play good, clean fast hockey and that gives us the best chance to win,” Cadrin said.

The Combines haven’t lost a playoff series since the 2019 season and could’ve possibly been in the search for a fifth straight title if the 2020-21 finals series wasn’t cut short due to COVID-19.

The final two games of the series are this Saturday, March 15 at the Access Communications Centre, and then Sunday, March 16 at the Neilburg Arena. Saturday is an 8:00 p.m. puck and Sunday is a 7:00 p.m. puck drop.

SWHL

After beating the defending champion, Kindersley Klippers in the semi-finals, the Wilkie Outlaws will now faceoff against the Edam Three Stars in the title series.

The Outlaws and Three Stars played each other two times during the regular season and split the games, both winning at home. Now, going into their 10th title game in a row and after falling short last season, Outlaws veteran d-man, Derek Keller said the team is focused and ready.

“I think we’d be lying if we didn’t say that there was still a bit of a sour taste from last year. The mindset for this year is to focus on the task at hand and take it very much one game at a time. Also, just trying to make sure that we don’t look past anything and understand who our opponent is. It’ll be a good match up for us,” Keller said.

Keller added that the biggest factor for them for the series is dealing with Edam’s physicality.

“I think Edam’s going to pose a challenge because they’re a very physical team. They play a really physical, in-your-face game and we’re going to have to be ready for that,” he said.

Game one of the series is this Saturday, March 15, at 7:30 p.m. at the SaskCan Community Centre in Wilkie.

Senior Provincials

In the Senior D division, Edam currently leads the Delisle Bruins 1-0 in the semi-final series, and in Senior C, Wilkie has made it all the way to the championship series and is taking on the Foam Lake Flyers.

Go to the Hockey Saskatchewan website to see the senior hockey provincial’s schedule.

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Austin.mattes@pattisonmedia.com

On X: @AustinMattes