The SJHL has released its 2016-17 schedule and it’s now known where the Battlefords North Stars will start their season.
It begins as usual, against Kindersley Klippers in a traditional home-and-home set beginning Friday, Sept. 16 at the Civic Centre.
In addition the North Stars face the Finning Division’s Humboldt Broncos and Notre Dame Hounds six times during the regular season. The Hounds are the opposition for one of two neutral-site games: in Shellbrook for Hockey Day in Saskatchewan Jan. 21. The other is against the La Ronge Ice Wolves in Pinehouse on Dec. 7. Both are considered “road” games for the North Stars.
The other matchups include six games against the league champ Melfort Mustangs, one of which is the SJHL Showcase in Warman; six against La Ronge and four each versus Estevan, Yorkton, Nipawin, Flin Flon, Weyburn, and Melville. One of the Melville games will be at the Showcase.
The total number of games will be 58, the same as last season, with 28 home and 28 away games, including a home and away game at the SJHL Showcase.
Of note will be an extended Christmas break this season, partly due to the Civic Centre being host to the Pinty’s Grand Slam of Curling Event in January.
The Christmas break begins for the North Stars Dec. 18 and their return to the ice is Jan. 6.
The 12 SJHL teams had met in June to draw up the schedule for the season.
Six North Stars pre-season games are planned but the team is still trying to nail down the schedule and host sites for those. Tentatively, the plan is to play home-and-home sets with Bonnyville of the AJHL, Nipawin and Kindersley between Sept. 3 and Sept. 10.
