The Saskatchewan Hockey Association announced earlier this year that all franchises in the SMAAAHL would be reviewed, that there were no hockey centres guaranteed a team and every organization would have to re-apply for a franchise.
The most important caveat in the applications surrounded the ability of any centre with a AAA team to also be able to support a AA team in order to guarantee the availability of affiliates. Other factors included having enough available players – 18 skaters and two goaltenders for AAA, 17 skaters and two goaltenders for AA – in addition to adequate coaching and billeting resources.
A total of 12 teams would be accepted for AAA, 25 for AA.
As a result of consultations, two new franchises were added and two removed.
Newcomers to the league will be teams from Estevan and Warman, with the Beardy’s Blackhawks and Notre Dame Argos seeing their applications rejected.
In addition, Moose Jaw, Regina, Saskatoon and Prince Albert are all considered ‘closed’ organizations and won’t be able to draw AA players from outside their respective city.
The Sask Midget AAA Hockey League and the Sask AA Hockey League will take the necessary action at their respective Annual General Meetings in 2020 to alter their constitution and cylaws to accept the new approved members.
