Hockey Season in Saskatchewan

When September rolls around, the anticipation of a new hockey season spreads across the prairies.  From playing, coaching and officiating, the Saskatchewan Hockey Association has plenty of programs for hockey enthusiasts both young and old.

What’s happening in the hockey world across Saskatchewan?

• Cross Ice Jamborees are in full swing and booking fast. The Saskatchewan Hockey Association created the cross-ice program, which consists of two teams playing a cross ice game for 20 minutes while another 2 teams work on skill development on the other half of the ice, to focus on development of core skills at the initiation stage (players born in 2013-2014) of hockey development. Cross-Ice events are held across the province. Check out the Cross-Ice Jamboree Schedule to find out when a Jamboree is coming to your area. Minor Hockey Associations (MHA) can get all the info they need with regards to hosting their own Cross-Ice Jamboree by heading to the Cross-Ice page on the SHA website.

• Female Festivals have begun! The Female Festivals are for Novice (players born in 2011-2012) and Atom (players born in 2009-2010) aged girls. This is the first step in our Female Development Progression and an excellent opportunity for young female athletes to further develop their skills as a player while meeting new friends and having a great time! Upcoming Festivals are filling up fast though so there is no time to waste. Head over and SIGN UP now!

• Novice Half Ice is here! Aligning with Hockey Canada’s Long-Term Athlete Development Model, Sask. Hockey has implemented Novice Half-Ice Hockey across the province. With a focus on development, players will play half ice games with a skills zone on the other half of the ice until January 1^st. If you are an MHA looking to host a Novice Half Ice Event, click HERE for more info. For further info on Novice Hockey, head to the Novice Half-Ice page.

• SaskFirst registrations are NOW OPEN for the 2019-20 season. From Female U-18 (players born in 2004-2003), Female U-16 (players born in 2006-2005), Male U-18 (players born in 2004-2002) and Male U-16 (players born in 2005), the Saskatchewan Hockey Association is taking registrations for Regional Camps from north and south regions of the province. The SaskFirst program is the SHA’s high-performance program and players that successfully progress through the program are then chosen to play on Team Saskatchewan. The regional camps are the first step in the SaskFirst evaluation process. Players can register today by visiting the SHA website.

• Officiating clinics have begun and are filling up across the province. Whether you are just starting out or are well past your playing days, from big city to small centres, there is a clinic near you. If you have ever wanted to experience the game from the other side of the ice, now is the time to sign up for a clinic. Head to the SHA’s Official’s page to register today!

• Are you thinking about getting into Coaching this season? The SHA is the first stop when getting fully certified to coach at any level in Saskatchewan, from initiation to senior. The SHA offers a number of clinics throughout the year and across the province for every level of coach certification. If coaching interests you, head to the coaches’ page on the SHA website for more info on requirements, clinics, and much more!

As you can see, there is no shortage of action getting ready for another hockey season. Whether you are a player or a coach, a parent or an official, or just a fan of the game, there is something for you. Stay up to date with all the latest Saskatchewan hockey action by following the SHA on Facebook (@saskhockey) or Twitter (@sask_hockey). Thank you for checking in with the Saskatchewan Hockey Association, we look forward to seeing you out on the ice!

-The Saskatchewan Hockey Association (SHA) is the governing body for organized hockey in the Province of Saskatchewan. Serving approximately 45,000 members, the SHA’s mission is to Lead, Develop and Promote Positive Hockey Experiences.