CANORA - The Sask East Hockey League is gearing up for a fifth season, which will once again include 10 teams split up into the north and south divisions, according to Cal Homeniuk, Canora Cobras general manager.
“Each team will play a 14-game regular season, just like last year,” said Homeniuk, “with seven home games and seven on the road.”
For the Cobras, action begins with a pair of road games on Nov. 22 in Churchbridge, and the next evening at Rocanville, where Canora will no doubt be out for revenge after being defeated by the Tigers in the league final last season.
The home opener for Cobras is scheduled for the following weekend, Nov. 30 versus Wapella.
The Cobras will play home and away games versus Cote, Preeceville, Theodore, Swan Valley and Wapella. In addition to Rocanville and Churchbridge, single games against Langenburg and the Esterhazy Flyers will fill out the schedule, with the Flyers visiting Canora on Feb. 1 for the final Cobras game of the regular season.
The Flyers are the only new team in the league this season, replacing the departing Ituna Avalanche in the south division.
“Eight teams will once qualify for the playoffs, but this season they will be seeded from first to eighth for the playoffs,” said Homeniuk.
That means, regardless of division, the first place-team will face off against the eighth place team, second versus seventh, and so on for the first round of the playoffs.
Homeniuk said, like most years, the Cobras will have a few new players for the coming season, and there will be a few departures from last year’s team.
After being named SEHL Coach of the Year last year, Darren Schwartz is back to coach the Cobras for another season.
Practices will begin as soon as the ice is in at the Canora Civic Centre, probably in mid-October.
The Cobras are always on the lookout for volunteers to help out at home games; bar workers, gate workers, 50/50 sales and so on. With only seven home games plus playoffs, Homeniuk says it’s not a huge time commitment.
Anyone looking to join the Cobras volunteer crew is encouraged to phone Cal Homeniuk at 306-563-8337.
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