CANORA, SASK- The Canora Cobras have been in the SEHL final for three years in a row, winning it all two seasons ago.
The plan is to have similar success this coming season, even after numerous changes in the off-season. From the 2025-26 roster, gone are: Logan Foster, Scott Mickoski, Sean Kolodziejski, Troy Zulyniak, Briel Beblow, Carson Dennis, Tanner Mak, Carter Lake, and goaltender Ross Hawryluk.
But second-year general manager Casey Mydonick said there are some talented reinforcments on the way.
“We have some local young kids moving up in Linden Roebuck and Cooper Kraynick,” said Mydonick. “Tomas Hauber is making a return from Junior B hockey. Some other additions are Don St. Marie, Jordan Evans and goaltender Adam Dmyterko.”
The Cobras do have stability behind the bench, with Darren Schwartz returning as head coach.
“With there being that much turnover it’ll take a bit of time for all the chemistry to take place, but we expect to compete in the league like we have for the last three seasons.”
Once again, the Cobras will also be looking for success in provincials.
In league play each team will play 14 games during the coming season after a pair of surprising recent announcements.
“Wapella and Langenburg have opted to take the year off at the last minute,” said Mydonick. “So our revised schedule is actually six home games and eight away. Everyone can find our schedule on Facebook or at the Sask East Hockey League website.”
Preeceville has also decided to take year off, but the Roblin North Stars have joined the league, which means there will be nine teams this season. The top eight teams will make the playoffs.
Mydonick said there is always a need for more volunteers to help out on home game days.
Those who are helping out behind the scenes this season include:
Shelby Stefanyshyn (social media director)
Morgan Gatenby (secretary)
Olivia Dereniwsky (treasurer)
Tanner Denesowych (president)
Vice President is presently vacant.
“Without these people there is no way this team can operate, they make my position as general manager very pleasant,” said Mydonick.
Pat Miechkota is returning voice of the Cobras and Aaron Nagy will be handling the music on game days.
“It should be an exciting year as it always is!” said Mydonick. “Our first home game isn't until December so hopefully the town/fans will be hungry to watch some senior hockey. With all of the teams leaving last minute we've had to redo the schedule a few times so that would be the reasoning for a weird schedule. It definitely wasn’t planned out this way, but it is what it is and we will roll with the punches!”
As the defending league champion Langenburg Warriors are one of the teams that have pulled out, Commissioner Mike Stackhouse says it should be an interesting and competitive season for the league and the Cobras.
“Canora is very well run by a solid board of directors. Despite losing a couple of key players, they have done a good job filling the holes on the roster. I would expect them to be in the top half of the standings once again.
Stackhouse said the league is facing challenges heading into the new season.
“We have noticed some diminished commitment and drive from some of the younger players who are graduating out of junior and their local midget programs. A couple of decades ago, those players were very hungry to continue playing hockey at a high level. There aren't as many of those players today and the reasons are numerous but it is worth taking note of because those players are the future of senior hockey.
“One thing that has impacted us is the SJHL (Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League) no longer has an import rule so more and more of their players are not what you might refer to as local so that talent pool isn't as vast as it once was. Hockey, especially, junior hockey, has become a lot more global and so this move is a good one for the SJHL in order to attract the top players they need to remain an upper echelon league. But it has caused some of our senior teams to have to pivot and look to other places to find players.”
The Cobras open their season on the road at Esterhazy on Nov. 6, in a rematch of a hard-fought semifinal series won by the Cobras this past spring.
In somewhat of a scheduling oddity the Cobras play their first six games on the road before the home opener in Canora on Dec. 18, with the arch rival Theodore Buffalos coming to town.
The Cobras end the regular season ends with a home date against the always tough Swan Valley Axemen on Jan. 30, 2027.
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