Reader here, and for hockey fans, it’s a great time of year, as the playoffs are in sight, right from the NHL, down to local minor hockey.
At the pro level, the NHL trade deadline is this Friday, March 6th, when teams that are either looking to make a deep playoff run, or build for the future, will look to tweak their roster, and make all the right moves, hoping that those deals don’t blow up in their faces.
I have to say, Trade Deadline Day used to be a lot more fun in the pre-salary cap era, when it was truly “anything goes.” You could always could on my Philadelphia Flyers to be big spenders and make moves that either worked out well, or crashed and burned. There was never any “in-between!” Philly’s hovering around a playoff spot, but it’s likely they’ll miss out once again. Will they be sellers at the deadline? I’ll have to wait and see!
When it comes to junior hockey, the Western Hockey League regular season wraps up on March 22nd, with playoff positioning still to be determined. Growing up near Saskatoon, and living in the Bridge City for eight years before moving to Yorkton, the Blades have always been my Dub team. They’ve locked up a postseason spot for the seventh straight year, as they chase their elusive first-ever league title. Could this be their year?
Closer to home, in the SJHL, the Yorkton Terriers are close to clinching the Bunge Division title, and have an outside shot at overtaking the Flin Flon Bombers for first overall. Barring a collapse, they should have home-ice advantage for at least the first round of the playoffs.
Down Highway 10, the Melville Millionaires are in a fight for one of the final three playoff spots. The Mils currently sit seventh in the overall standings, and have a huge home-and-home with Estevan coming up this weekend. The Bruins sit one point back of Melville, in the eighth and final playoff spot. Strap yourself in for some big games this weekend, Mils fans!
In the MJHL, unfortunately, the Swan Valley Stampeders won’t be suiting up for postseason action, but there are still four more home games on the schedule, to head out to the Centennial Arena in Swan River and make some noise for the home side!
The Prairie Junior Hockey League playoffs have begun, and Fort Knox are currently up two games to none in their best-of-seven South Division semifinal against the Assiniboia Southern Rebels. The newest team in the league, the Moosomin Steelhawks, were eliminated in the South Survivor Series by the Pilot Butte Storm.
And that’s just the tip of the iceberg, as all of our local senior and minor hockey teams are deep into the postseason, in both league and provincial playoffs.
This is the time of year when the games matter most, so why not head to the rink with your family and friends, grab yourself a delicious rink burger and a big tray of fries, and cheer loud, as our teams chase playoff glory!
See you at the rink!
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