Saskatchewan - it is a hockey hotbed which has produced 477 NHLers, and whether that includes the likes of Jason Herter of Hafford, who played one game, or Gordie Howe, who played 1,767, there is no doubt Saskatchewanians know and love hockey.
Saturday produced the opportunity to celebrate those players who came up through the minor hockey ranks and those who play minor hockey today during SaskEnergy Hockey Day in Saskatchewan.
For the fourth annual Hockey Day in Saskatchewan, 96 communities participated, including the Battlefords where a peewee AA tournament took place, minor hockey players wearing their jersey went to a midget AAA hockey game for free, a novice team won tickets to a WHL game, Barry Belak was presented with the Volunteer Champion Award and other minor hockey games were played.
The provincial host for this year's Saskatchewan Hockey Association festivities was Waldheim. There, two minor hockey games were played, as well as a SFMAAAHL game between the Regina Rebels and Melville Prairie Fire, a SMAAAHL game between the Beardy's Blackhawks and Notre Dame Hounds and the highlight - a SJHL between the Battlefords North Stars and Notre Dame Hounds. Sunday, there was also an interdenominational church service and the Prairie Junior B Hockey League all-star game.
One of the criteria for the selection of the provincial host of Hockey Day in Saskatchewan is there must be an arena renovation or building project in the works. Waldheim is currently raising funds for the final improvements of the new Waldheim Community Recreation Centre.
Lanigan, Lampman and Unity were the previous host communities.
The SHA website states, "The main theme of SaskEnergy Hockey Day in Saskatchewan is to promote the game of hockey and to build community spirit by making the arena the focal point of activity for the day or the weekend."
Along with the action going on across the province at the minor hockey level, there was WHL hockey going on in the Saskatchewan centres. Ninety-three teams from across the province applied for the Western Hockey League Youth Experience and teams from Montmartre, Rouleau/Avonlea, Radville, Rosetown, Carrot River, Herbert, Choiceland and the Battlefords were selected to go to the hockey games.
The Novice Rams were the lucky team, taking in a Saskatoon Blades game Saturday against Swift Current.
The final province wide event, which took place this weekend, was a hockey game between some of Saskatchewan Roughriders' players and staff with some lucky players in Unity.
Shomari Williams, Taman George, Jordan Sisco, Jason Clermont, Neil Hughes, Dan Clark, Luc Mullinder, Chris Getzlaf all suited up while Jeremy O'Day, Chunky Adams, Wes Catres and Brent Hawkins coached and were joined by Rider staff members Ryan Whippler, Kevin Clive and Kelly Forsberg.
Some players, like Getzlaf and Clermont, looked natural out there while others, such as Williams and George struggled just to skate, but it made for an entertaining day in Unity. Unity was a runner-up for the Riderville contest this season and the reason a Roughrider hockey game was brought to their town. The Riders will also be playing games in Nipawin, Yorkton and Weyburn, the other finalists in the Riderville contest.
