The SJHL Annual General meetings held at Jackfish Lodge over the weekend put the final stamp on the 2022/23 season season or officially signaled the start of the 2023/24 campaign.
The 12 teams, with their respective coaching and scouting staffs, along with the governor’s from each club came together to deal with league duties.
Two key resolutions were passed at the AGM which include continue to build stronger franchises and more player centered league, a resolution was passed that will help create and implement an Elements of Effective Franchise Rubric which will assist teams in maintaining a culture of excellence.
An additional resolution was passed that will require any Saskatchewan born player that a team is attempting to trade out of province must be placed on an internal waiver before the player can be moved outside of the league.
Hockey Canada has approved a new facemask policy for all Canadian Junior Hockey League (CJHL) teams as beginning in the 2023-24 season and in every season afterwards, CJHL players born after December 31st, 2004 must wear full facial protection during participation in all on-ice activities.
The breakdown is as follows:
2023-2024 season – 16, 17 and 18-year-old players (2005/2006/2007 birth years)
2024-2025 season – 16, 17, 18 and 19-year-old players (2005/2006/2007/2008 birth years)
2025-2026 season – all players must wear full facial protection
SJHL teams are allowed to open their training camp on August 25th and the regular season schedule, which will feature 56 games, will kick off September 22nd .
It will be the second of season of a schedule format pilot will be executed in the 2023-24 season where All 12 member teams will play each other four times in the regular season, play 6 games against each of their division rivals and additional two games against select opponents at the annual SJHL Showcase in Warman, which has been moved back to November.
Full Raw Chat with SJHL Commissioner Kyle McIntyre below: