HTJHL, CSHL kickoff seasons Saturday
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This article was published 13/10/2016 (2744 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
The puck drops on Saturday as two local hockeyleagues begin play in their respective 2016-17 regular season campaigns.
There have been some changes in the line-up of teams in teams in both leagues, the Hanover Tache Junior Hockey League (HTJHL) and the Carillon Senior Hockey League (CSHL).
The HTJHL is entering its 30th year this season. A six-team league last season, the loop now sports seven teams with the return of the St. Adolphe Hawks to the fold.
Saturday’s season-opening games will have Mitchell hosting Red River and Steinbach at Springfield, with both games getting underway at 8:00 p.m.
The defending champion Lorette Comets will open their season next Wednesday, Oct. 19 at Steinbach. St Adolphe will make their debut in their return to the league on Oct. 20 as they travel to Mitchell. And finally Grunthal will see their first action of the season Oct. 21 at home as the Red Wings entertain the Lorette Comets.
Lorette, who finished second in the regular season standings last season behind the pennant-winning Steinbach Huskies, went on to defeat Springfield in the HTJHL finals last spring.
Each team in the HTJHL will play a 24-game regular season schedule, which culminates Feb. 11.
HTJHL president Ray Laing says the league plans to mark the 30th anniversary of the loop during a special ceremony at one of the upcoming games during the season.
Meanwhile, the Carillon Senior Hockey League will also begin their regular season on Saturday, but without the St. Malo Warriors, who have taken a leave of absence from the loop this season due to a shortage of players.
But two other teams have returned to the fold, the Grunthal Red Wings and Springfield 98s, making the CSHL a six-team league this year, up one from last season.
All six teams will see action this weekend with La Broquerie hosting Grunthal at 7:00 p.m. and the defending champion Ste Anne Aces entertaining Springfield at 8:00 p.m. Sunday will see Red River at Steinbach at 7:00 p.m.
The Aces, who posted an 18-2 regular season record last season, went on to beat the Huskies in six games in the CSHL finals.
Again, each team will play a 20-game schedule this season, also wrapping up on Feb. 11.