Managers from around the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League got together once again for their AGM, a meeting where they discuss the past season and make changes where they see necessary.
The most significant development from the AGM is the move to three-on-three overtime hockey instead of four-on-four. In a press release, president of the SJHL, Bill Chow, believes the fans will fall in love with the new style of play and it will add a whole new level of entertainment to the league. The general managers of the SJHL were so intrigued with the idea that they wanted to elongate the overtime period, but decided to keep it simple.
“We talked about making it maybe seven or even 10 minutes. But, in the end, we agreed to go with five minutes of overtime at three-on-three,” Chow said. “We just felt the top-end players would get burnt out.”
Coach Kevin Hasselberg of the North Stars is pleased with the rule change that will allow his offence to attack in new ways.
“I’m excited about the new three-on-three formant. I believe it will be a great display of skill and speed and will bring another element of fan excitement. I think the best way to sum up our strategy is to go all in and allow our players the creativity to attack with all of the open ice in mind. Goalies will be forced to make a few big saves.”
Other news out of the AGM were the profits of the Estevan Bruins after hosting the Western Canada Cup. Despite the downturn of economy, the city of Estevan and their dedicated volunteers were able to turn a profit and prove they can host an outstanding event like the WCC.
Player safety is always a cause for concern in the SJHL, and of course, this was a large topic of conversation. One of the changes to come out of the meeting was the increase in suspensions for head shots. During the 2015-16 campaign, a player would have to sit out at least two games for a blow to the head. Next season, the SJHL has moved the ban to four games.
“The league and its members have taken a hard stance on player safety and these are the types of hits that have to be taken from the game,” Hasselberg said. “If that means a tougher form of discipline then so be it. I’m not sure it will affect the physicality of the game, what it will do is maintain accountability for the coaches and players to play more responsible and aware.”
Match penalties will also have an increase from three games to five.
Other headlines included goaltender interference penalties. Just a year ago, there were 149 incidents. To protect the netminders, the SJHL has concluded that a player will be forced to sit out two games if they have taken three goaltender interference penalties throughout the season. There will also be an additional two games for each interference penalty taken after the given player has served his suspension.
The second annual bantam draft was also given some thought. The draft will slowly begin to have an impact on teams as each player is a year closer to being eligible to play for their SJHL club.
The league will now open its regular schedule Sept. 15-16 weekend with training camps set to start anytime after August. Warman will once again host the annual showcase. It will be the same format as last year, with each team playing two games at a central location. The showcase will take place Sept. 26-28.
For the North Stars, Hasselberg says every cog in the machine needs to be working on a daily basis in order to duplicate their 2015-16 success.
“Players, staff and board members all give a little bit each day to get better. The players will be deep into their training regimes, staff will be crossing the T’s and dotting the I’s to ensure the product on the ice and off the ice can continue to build on the success the team has earned,” Hasselberg continued, “A lot of miles will be put on meeting with players, parents and other coaches. A lot of time will be placed on seasonal planning, scheduling and preparing for the first puck drop.”
The off-season for the SJHL is now in full swing. The league will be quiet for a few weeks before ramping up for training camps and the annual showcase. Chow believes the AGM was another success and says improvements are always being made to ensure the longevity of the SJHL.
