Six teams in the Battlefords surrounding area are playing in this year's Senior Hockey Provincial Playoffs. (Hockey Saskatchewan/Website)

By Austin Mattes

Senior Hockey

SWHL well represented in Provincial Playoffs

Jan 16, 2025 | 5:00 PM

This past week, the bracket for Senior Hockey Provincial Playoffs was released and the Battlefords surrounding areas had six teams selected, all from the Sask. West Hockey League (SWHL) to compete across four different brackets.

Senior A

In the Senior A bracket, the Hafford Hawks made the cut and after falling in the first round last year, the team is expected to have a very good showing, currently sitting at 8-2 on the season and second overall in their league.

The first series of provincials for the Hawks will be against the defending champions, Kenaston Blizzard of the Sask. Valley Hockey League (SVHL). Date and time for the first game are still to be determined.

Senior B

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For Senior B, there is only one team representing the area and that is the Biggar Nationals. The Nationals have struggled this season, only having one win while taking eight losses in the SWHL.

That being said though, the Nationals have some great top end talent in Taylor Bucsis, Jonathan Redlick and Chris Henry and they could definitely make a run for the final.

Biggar will take on the Davidson Cyclones (SVHL) in the first round with the series starting on February 15 at 8:00 p.m. in Davidson.

Senior C

The Wilkie Outlaws and Unity Miners are the two representing in the Senior C bracket. Currently, the Miners are at the bottom of the standings in the SWHL at 0-8 but still have one point from an overtime loss.

The Miners will take on the Eston Ramblers (SVHL) in the first round with the first game on Jan. 26, 3:30 p.m. is Eston.

On the other hand, Wilkie is the current defending Senior C provincial champion and has won five provincial championships in the past 11 years. Currently in the SWHL, they are tied second overall with the Hafford Hawks and have an 8-2 record.

Outlaw veteran and forward, Derek Keller said the expectation for this year is no different but the reason for past success comes from the commitment by the players.

“There’s always some really good teams you got to beat to win provincials and we’re running it back with the same squad and obviously our expectations are high for ourselves, but if you’re going to build a team in senior hockey you have to have really committed, skilled locals because that’s where you build your team around…so, the fact that we all play together, we play for the same purpose. I think it’s the reason that we have been able in the past to win the championships.” Keller said.

The Outlaws will have home ice advantage in the tournament, starting in the first round against the Outlook Ice Hawks. Game one of the series takes place February 1, 8:00 p.m. in Wilkie.

Senior D

In the Senior D bracket, it’ll be a big round one matchup between the defending champions, Macklin Mohawks and SWHL counterpart, Edam 3 Stars. Right now, both teams are tied at 4-5 in SWHL with 8 points but it’s the 3 Stars that lead the season series 1-0.

With both team’s neck and neck, it only adds to the excitement of this provincial matchup. Edam player and manager, Joel Blaquiere said it’s a game he looks forward to and that the winner of the series has a good chance to determine the bracket.

“Every time we play them it’s always low scoring games, real hard, gritty and some of the best games of the year. Honestly both teams match up evenly, so it’s going to be a pretty tough competition…whoever comes out of our first series has a pretty good shot to win it all” Blaquiere said.

The date and time for the first game of this series is still undetermined.

To see the full schedule for all brackets, visit the Hockey Saskatchewan website.