After an emotional week around the hockey world following the tragic accident involving the Humboldt Broncos last Friday, the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League returned to action over the weekend.
Following a unanimous decision by the league’s board of governors during a conference call Wednesday, the Estevan Bruins and Nipawin Hawks took to the ice in Nipawin for the first game of the 2018 Canalta Cup championship series Saturday night.
“We had a tough decision to make with respect on how we can pay tribute and honour the Humboldt Broncos,” SJHL preisdent Bill Chow said in a statement.
“On behalf of the Board of Governors, this intensive decision has been made and that decision is to carry through and finish off the 2017-2018 season. The league will play hockey.”
News of the continuation of the season came just hours after the passing of Broncos trainer Dayna Brons, who was the 16th victim from the accident with the Broncos team bus and a transport truck that occured north of Tisdale.
It was a packed house at the Centennial Arena in Nipawin Saturday, with many fans sporting Broncos gear.
The two sides came together around centre ice for a moment of silence prior to the game, with a huge round of applause given to first responders and medical personel that arrived to the scene of the accident.
“I would say that’s the biggest game we’ve played in the SJHL,” Bruins head coach and general manager Chris Lewgood said in a press conference following the game.
“It’s been a really emotional time for everybody. Some more than others.”
It was the Bruins that took the win in the series opener Saturday, as they defeated the Hawks by a score of 5-2 despite being outshot by a 44-33 margin.
Jake Heerspink led the way for the Bruins with a pair of assists, while teammates Jayden Davis, Zach Goberis, Kaelan Holt, Michael McChesney and Arthur Miller all found the back of the net.
Netminder Bo Didur, who left Game 4 of the semifinal final series against the Battlefords North Stars with a lower body injury, returned to the lineup for the Bruins and made 41 saves.
Jordan Simoneau and Josh McDougall both scored for the Hawks, who recieved a 25-save performance from goaltender Declan Hobbs.
The Hawks would bounce back Sunday, as they evened up the series with a 4-1 win on home ice.
Logan Casavant and Adam Beckman, who led the Saskatchewan Midget AAA Hockey League in scoring this season for the Battlefords Stars, both scored twice in the victory.
Brandan Arnold and McDougall each had a pair of assists and Hobbs bounced back with a 23-save showing.
Miller had the lone goal for the Bruins, while Didur turned aside 34 shots.
The scene will now shift to Estevan for the next two games of the final, which will be held at Affinity Place on Tuesday and Wednesday.
The fifth game of the series will be held in Nipawin Friday.
If needed, a sixth game will take place Sunday in Estevan.
A seventh and deciding contest, if required, will be held in Nipawin next Tuesday night.
A lengthy title drought will come to an end no matter who hoists the Canalta Cup.
The Hawks haven’t won a championship since 1990, while the Bruins last took home the crown in 1999.
The winner of the SJHL will then go on to play the Manitoba Junior Hockey League champions in the best-of-seven Anavet Cup for a spot at this year’s RBC Cup national championship in Chilliwack, B.C. next month.
The Virden Oil Capitals held a 2-1 series lead over the Steinbach Pistons in the MJHL final, which resumes Monday evening in Virden.
Meanwhile, support for the Humboldt Broncos continues to roll in.
Fundraising efforts have taken place across North American, with the GoFundMe campaign for the team raising $ 11.8 million as of Monday morning.
Meanwhile, a campaign that was spearheaded by a Tweet from Saskatoon Blades announcer Les Lazaruk to call Broncos games on the radio next season in honour of play-by-play man Tyler Bieber has picked up steam with WHL and NHL announcers jumping on board.
