SOUTHEAST SASKATCHEWAN - The Big Six Hockey League is looking forward to what will be a milestone 2023-24 campaign.
The puck will drop on the senior men's hockey league's 65th season on Nov. 3. Nine teams are slated to be on the ice for this season, down two from last year, but league president Craig Barber said the remaining teams in the league might now be stronger.
The Yellow Grass Wheat Kings left the league in favour of the Notekeu Hockey League, which largely has teams in south-central Saskatchewan. Barber said the rules in the Big Six regarding imported players might have made it difficult for the Wheat Kings. And he suspects the other league might be closer for members of the Wheat Kings who come from the Moose Jaw or Regina areas to play.
Also, the Arcola-Kisbey Combines have taken a leave of absence for this season.
"[The departure of] Yellow Grass was probably a surprise because they got into this league and they were contenders. Last year, though, they were starting to have troubles with guys showing up," said Barber.
The nine teams remaining – the Bienfait Coalers, Carlyle Cougars, Carnduff Red Devils, Midale Mustangs, Oxbow Huskies, Kipling-Windthorst Oil Kings, Moosomin Rangers, Wawota Flyers and the defending champion Redvers Rockets – should all be strong.
"I'm guessing it's going to be one of the most competitive Big Six years," said Barber. "A few years back, when we lost a few [teams], it was really competitive, but I think teams this year are going to be really, really competitive."
Teams will have to step up if they want to dethrone the Rockets, who lost their opening game of the 2022-23 campaign to Oxbow last season and then went undefeated in the rest of the regular season and the playoffs. He knows that Moosomin and Carlyle have added some talented players.
The league has further amended the import rule that was introduced a few years ago. Teams can carry up to four import or elite players, and there is no longer an exception for home-grown or locally-based imports.
An import or elite player is someone who has at least 65 games of experience at the junior A level or higher. But after a player has spent three years as an import with a team, he is granted an exemption and won't count as an elite player. Also, a player at least 35 years of age is exempt from import status.
Barber said they don't have anything special planned for the 65th season, but he looks forward to the hockey that will be played. He pointed out the money that is generated during Big Six games goes to the rink and helps the community, and the cost of running a senior hockey team is pretty high due to the cost of officials, insurance and more.
This will also be Barber's first year as Big Six president. He said somebody needed to step up into the role. Barber had been a manager of the Carnduff Red Devils for 14 years.
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