Many local area arenas are days away from taking out their ice, if they haven't already done so. So now the question is where is the best place to go this time of year to get your hockey fix in the Northwest?
In peewee A action, the Battlefords Barons earned a bye to the semifinal and faced Yorkton, but that is where their provincial run ended. Yorkton beat the Barons 10-2 and 13-0 to advance to the provincial final where they will face Moosomin.
The Battlefords Bantam A Barons provincial team played their second series, the northern final, against Nipawin and won. The Barons advance and face Yorkton in the provincial final. The Barons beat Swift Current in the first round, and after losing 5-4 in the first game to Nipawin, won 8-1 on home ice to advance to the final. The Barons will face Yorkton Sunday at Battleford Arena at 4 p.m. in the first game of the final series.
One of the two bantam league teams remain in the Hi-Way 14 Hockey League playoffs. The team, coached by Gary Nolin, is set to face Kerrobert in the first game of their series Friday at the Battleford Arena.
The Battlefords Midget A Barons provincial team faced La Ronge in what seems to be an annual event. This time the Barons lost by a goal and were eliminated. The Barons won 4-3 in game one, but lost game two of the series 7-5, as La Ronge advanced to the provincial final against Estevan.
The Lloydminster Border Kings, the 2012 hosts of the Allan Cup, were knocked out of senior AAA playoffs. The Border Kings lost game one and three of the series on home ice to Rosetown, as the Red Wings now face Balgonie in the provincial final. The winner of the best-of-five series will earn a spot in the Allan Cup April 16 to 21.
At the senior A level, the Rosthern/Maidstone team, which is playing out of Rosthern this season, lost game three of their northern final series to be eliminated. Rosthern won 5-2 in game one of the series against Shellbrook, but Shellbrook won 7-3 in game two and 2-1 in game three to earn a spot in the provincial final against Bienfait.
In senior B provincials, Drake and Shaunavon are set to begin a best-of-three provincial final series.
The senior C provincial final should begin shortly, as Kyle advanced from the south and Delisle and Davidson were battling in the north, but the scores from game two haven't been posted. Davidson won the first game of the series 6-4.
After knocking off Luseland, Kenaston beat Porcupine Plain in the northern final of senior D provincials and advanced to the final were they will face either Central Butte or Dinsmore.
In peewee C hockey action, Spiritwood is still alive, as they are in a northern final battle with Wynyard. Spiritwood beat Hague 5-3 and 5-2 to advance to face Wynyard and led the two-game total-goal series 2-1 after the first game.
The Spiritwood bantam team's season continues as well. Spiritwood beat Warman in the bantam B northern final with scores of 5-4 for Warman and 9-5 for Spiritwood. Spiritwood now faces Melville in the bantam B provincial final.
The Spiritwood midget team had their season come to an end after losing 6-3 and 7-4 to Melfort in the northern semifinal. Melfort advances to face Delisle in the northern final. The series was scheduled to by completed by Monday, but no scores were posted at press time.
Wilkie's peewee provincial run was ended by the Macklin Mohawks. After beating Wilkie, Macklin went on to beat Langham 8-4 in the northern final series. Macklin lost 2-1 in the first game, but rallied for game two and now face Radville in the peewee D final.
The Edam Midgets season came to an end in the northern semifinal of midget C provincials with a two-game total-goal series lost to Dodsland. Dodsland went on to face Hudson Bay and lost 3-0 and tied 1-1 before being eliminated.
On the female bracket, Dodsland/Luseland were knocked off by the Saskatoon Tazers 6-2 and 6-3 in senior B provincials.
