MIDALE — The roster and coaching staff have been finalised, the schedule is set, and now the countdown is on for the Midale-based Southeast Saints’ first-ever game.
The Saints are among the 11 teams in the brand‑new Saskatchewan Senior Women’s Hockey League. Play in the North Division begins during the Thanksgiving long weekend, while the Saints will open play for the South Division when they host the Grenfell Prairie Fire at Midale’s Harry O Memorial Arena on Oct. 18 at 7 p.m.
“We’re looking forward to what should be a really good first season,” said Megan LeBlanc, who is the founder of the Saints and the co‑founder of the league, along with her friend Jenna Merk, who is playing for the Rouleau Reign.
The Saints’ first game will include a pre‑game introduction of the players. Other festivities have yet to be decided.
Teams will play 12 games in the regular season against teams from their own division; the only games outside the division will be the league final between the North and South Division.
Gary Goudy Sr. and Syd Chicoine are the Saints’ coaches. They have 20 players on the roster and 20 more affiliated players who could skate with the club during the season. At first, LeBlanc was concerned they would not have enough players for the team, but the interest eased her concerns.
“If you’re playing well, you’ll continue to make the roster. If not, it’s competitive, so if someone better comes along, you might get bumped down,” she said.
It’s also nice to have a larger roster because many of the players have young families that LeBlanc recognises will be their top priority.
“We’re pulling from the regions around Estevan and the southeast, so we have a little bit of everything this year, and there will be a little bit of a learning curve to decide how the different levels play out,” said LeBlanc.
The league has athletes ranging from those who played for Team Canada to those who, due to their age, didn’t have the opportunity to play AA hockey growing up. The Saints have a few players who have skated at the post‑secondary level to go with many women who played U18 AAA hockey in Weyburn or AA hockey in Midale for the Gold Wings program.
“That was a big reason why we decided to have our home rink be Midale, because we think it’s a women’s hockey legacy programme around here, where all the competitive girls from this corner of the province play in Midale for the Gold Wings,” said LeBlanc.
Women who don’t pursue post‑secondary studies can come play for the Saints, she said.
Joining the Saints, Reign and Prairie Fire in the South Division are the Vibank Bruins, Yellow Grass Wheat Queens and the Gull Lake Falcons.
Competing in the North Division are the Bridge City Storm, Northeast Drift, Northern Ice, Dalmeny Sabres and Lloydminster Border Collies.
“We’ve had a lot of people who want to play, so we’re ecstatic with the amount of support we’ve received, and there are some high‑level hockey players in this league, so it will be very cool to see where this ends up.”
