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Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (1948–1966)

The Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League was a junior ice hockey based in Saskatchewan and Manitoba from 1948 until 1966. It operated under the jurisdiction of the Saskatchewan Amateur Hockey Association. Two of its teams won the Abbott Cup as the junior champions of Western Canada, and the Flin Flon Bombers won the Memorial Cup as the national junior champion of Canada in 1957. Frank Boucher served as commissioner of the league from 1959 to 1966. The league disbanded when five of its eight teams joined the newly formed Canadian Major Junior Hockey League.

Photo of the trophy
The Abbott Cup was the championship trophy for junior ice hockey in Western Canada.

History

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The Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL) began play as the North Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League for the 1948–49 season, and was formed in response to teams in South Saskatchewan and Alberta combining to establish the Western Canada Junior Hockey League. The North Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League renamed itself to the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League for the 1950–51 season.[1]

The league operated under the jurisdiction of the Saskatchewan Amateur Hockey Association, and its teams were eligible for the national junior hockey playoffs as organized by the Canadian Amateur Hockey Association (CAHA).[2] The SJHL and other junior teams in Western Canada addressed the imbalance in Memorial Cup competition in a meeting with CAHA president W. B. George in August 1954. The teams sought permission for any league champion to add three players in the inter-provincial playoffs for the Memorial Cup, and contended that the imbalance in competition caused lack of spectator interest and less prestige for the event.[3][4] At the next CAHA meeting in January 1955, the request for three additional players for the Abbott Cup representative was approved.[5] Two teams from the SJHL won the Abbott Cup as the junior champions of Western Canada; which included the Flin Flon Bombers in 1957, and the Regina Pats in 1958. Flin Flon also won the Memorial Cup in 1957, as the national junior champion of Canada.[2]

Frank Boucher served as commissioner of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League from 1959 to 1966.[6] He proposed to establish a junior hockey league of the best twelve teams in Canada sponsored by the National Hockey League (NHL), and to compete for a trophy at a higher tier than the Memorial Cup. CAHA president Art Potter and the resolutions committee were against increasing NHL influence into amateur hockey in Canada and declined to present the proposal at the semi-annual meeting.[7] Potter also wanted more study into programs to support continued junior hockey growth and the Memorial Cup.[8] Boucher and team owners in Saskatchewan and Manitoba accused Potter and the CAHA of disregarding their concerns and favouring the Edmonton Oil Kings.[9] Boucher threatened to withdraw the SJHL from the Memorial Cup playoffs, due to the "unfair domination of western junior hockey by the Edmonton Oil Kings", since they had the pick of all the players from Alberta and used loopholes in rules to import stronger players.[10] After a playoffs game between the Edmonton Oil Kings and the Estevan Bruins in April 1963, Potter announced that broadcast rights for CAHA games by Ken Newmans of CHAB in Moose Jaw, and Linus Westerbeg of CKOS-TV in Yorkton, had been indefinitely suspended. Potter stated that the suspensions resulted from "continuously and severely criticizing officials, thereby giving an erroneous picture of the game as played".[11]

The SJHL disbanded following the 1965–66 season, when five of its eight teams joined the newly formed Canadian Major Junior Hockey League (CMJHL). The two Manitoba-based teams joined the Manitoba Junior Hockey League, and the Melville Millionaires suspended operations.[1] The Saskatchewan Amateur Junior Hockey League was established in 1968, and included teams which formerly played in the SJHL and the CMJHL.[12]

Teams

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List of teams that played in the SJHL:[1]

Team name Seasons City
Brandon Wheat Kings 1964–1966 Brandon, Manitoba
Estevan Bruins 1957–1966 Estevan, Saskatchewan
Flin Flon Bombers 1948–1966 Flin Flon, Manitoba
Humboldt Indians 1948–1955 Humboldt, Saskatchewan
Humboldt-Melfort Indians 1955–1957 Humboldt, Saskatchewan
Melville Millionaires 1955–1966 Melville, Saskatchewan
Moose Jaw Canucks 1958–1966 Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan
Prince Albert Mintos 1948–1962 Prince Albert, Saskatchewan
Regina Pats 1956–1966 Regina, Saskatchewan
Saskatoon Junior Quakers 1948–1949 Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
Saskatoon Wesleys 1949–1955 Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
Saskatoon Junior Quakers 1956–1964 Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
Saskatoon Blades 1964–1966 Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
Weyburn Red Wings 1961–1966 Weyburn, Saskatchewan
Yorkton Terriers 1955–1956 Yorkton, Saskatchewan

Standings

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1948–49 season

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Rank Team Games Wins Losses Ties Points GF GA
1 Prince Albert Mintos 24 15 8 1 31 120 96
2 Humboldt Indians 24 13 9 2 28 115 101
3 Saskatoon Junior Quakers 24 12 10 2 26 99 94
4 Flin Flon Bombers 24 5 18 1 11 76 119

1949–50 season

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Standings include one-point games between Humboldt and Prince Albert.[14]

Rank Team Games Wins Losses Ties Points GF GA
1 Prince Albert Mintos 28 16 8 4 32 142 119
2 Flin Flon Bombers 24 14 9 1 29 129 109
3 Humboldt Indians 28 13 11 4 26 135 120
4 Saskatoon Wesleys 24 3 18 3 9 75 133

1950–51 season

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Rank Team Games Wins Losses Ties Points GF GA
1 Flin Flon Bombers 36 24 11 1 49 189 147
2 Prince Albert Mintos 36 21 15 0 42 199 167
3 Saskatoon Wesleys 36 17 18 1 35 208 186
4 Humboldt Indians 36 8 26 2 18 157 265

1951–52 season

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The 1951–52 season scheduled included games against the Western Canada Junior Hockey League.[16]

Rank Team Games Wins Losses Ties Points GF GA
1 Humboldt Indians 50 23 25 2 48 172 189
2 Saskatoon Wesleys 50 21 24 5 47 192 239
3 Prince Albert Mintos 50 20 26 4 44 198 245
4 Flin Flon Bombers 50 18 27 5 41 211 236

1952–53 season

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Al Pickard was elected to be the league's governor.[17]

Rank Team Games Wins Losses Ties Points GF GA
1 Flin Flon Bombers 45 30 13 2 62 200 183
2 Humboldt Indians 45 22 22 1 45 184 166
3 Saskatoon Wesleys 47 21 26 0 42 195 207
4 Prince Albert Mintos 47 17 29 1 35 204 227

1953–54 season

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Al Pickard was re-elected to be the league's governor.[19]

Rank Team Games Wins Losses Ties Points GF GA
1 Prince Albert Mintos 48 28 18 2 58 219 206
2 Flin Flon Bombers 48 27 21 0 54 297 204
3 Humboldt Indians 48 20 25 3 43 163 202
4 Saskatoon Wesleys 48 18 29 1 37 172 219

1954–55 season

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Rank Team Games Wins Losses Ties Points GF GA
1 Humboldt Indians 48 28 19 1 57 235 176
2 Flin Flon Bombers 48 23 24 1 47 218 215
3 Prince Albert Mintos 47 22 25 0 44 182 218
4 Saskatoon Wesleys 47 21 26 0 42 170 196

1955–56 season

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Rank Team Games Wins Losses Ties Points GF GA
1 Flin Flon Bombers 48 37 10 1 75 301 149
2 Prince Albert Mintos 50 33 14 3 68 255 162
3 Yorkton Terriers 48 20 26 2 42 185 201
4 Humboldt-Melfort Indians 50 21 29 0 39 199 190
5 Melville Millionaires 48 8 40 0 16 126 364

1956–57 season

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Flin Flon won ten games valued at one point instead of two points.[23]

Rank Team Games Wins Losses Ties Points GF GA
1 Flin Flon Bombers 55 48 5 2 88 326 114
2 Regina Pats 51 32 16 3 67 225 163
3 Prince Albert Mintos 51 30 19 2 62 234 178
4 Humboldt-Melfort Indians 51 18 28 5 41 178 217
5 Melville Millionaires 51 20 31 0 40 168 226
6 Saskatoon Junior Quakers 51 1 50 0 2 102 322

1957–58 season

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Rank Team Games Wins Losses Ties Points GF GA
1 Regina Pats 51 36 12 3 75 246 160
2 Prince Albert Mintos 51 33 16 2 68 237 160
3 Flin Flon Bombers 55 28 25 2 48 220 177
4 Estevan Bruins 51 22 29 0 44 199 206
5 Saskatoon Junior Quakers 51 20 28 3 43 156 203
6 Melville Millionaires 51 10 39 2 22 134 256

1958–59 season

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Moose Jaw played most of its games in Weyburn due to a delay in replacing their home arena which had been damaged in a storm.[25]

Rank Team Games Wins Losses Ties Points GF GA
1 Flin Flon Bombers 48 35 12 1 71 269 144
2 Estevan Bruins 48 30 16 2 62 207 163
3 Regina Pats 48 27 17 4 58 162 139
4 Saskatoon Junior Quakers 48 20 26 2 42 224 243
5 Melville Millionaires 48 20 26 2 42 181 174
6 Prince Albert Mintos 48 17 27 4 38 213 231
7 Moose Jaw Canucks 48 11 36 1 23 166 328

1959–60 season

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Games played in Flin Flon were allotted 2.5 points each.[26]

Rank Team Games Wins Losses Ties Points GF GA
1 Flin Flon Bombers 54 35 16 3 82 301 189
2 Regina Pats 59 36 17 6 79 234 142
3 Prince Albert Mintos 59 35 22 2 72 298 237
4 Saskatoon Junior Quakers 59 32 23 4 69 258 232
5 Melville Millionaires 59 25 29 5 55 218 223
6 Estevan Bruins 59 23 33 3 49 187 257
7 Moose Jaw Canucks 59 6 52 1 13 161 378

1960–61 season

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Rank Team Games Wins Losses Ties Points GF GA
1 Regina Pats 60 38 17 5 81 282 177
2 Estevan Bruins 60 36 16 8 80 279 176
3 Melville Millionaires 60 30 22 8 69 270 233
4 Moose Jaw Canucks 60 24 26 10 58 181 212
5 Flin Flon Bombers 60 25 28 7 57 184 203
6 Saskatoon Junior Quakers 60 23 32 5 51 231 280
7 Prince Albert Mintos 60 10 45 5 25 157 303

1961–62 season

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Prince Albert played the season in Dauphin, Manitoba due to a fire at their arena.[28]

Rank Team Games Wins Losses Ties Points GF GA
1 Estevan Bruins 56 34 10 12 80 234 127
2 Regina Pats 56 33 16 7 73 237 156
3 Flin Flon Bombers 56 29 22 5 63 244 199
4 Melville Millionaires 56 26 25 5 57 217 223
5 Moose Jaw Canucks 56 22 25 9 53 199 225
6 Saskatoon Junior Quakers 56 22 26 8 52 185 223
7 Weyburn Red Wings 55 18 30 7 43 165 185
8 Prince Albert Mintos 55 11 41 3 25 146 287

1962–63 season

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Rank Team Games Wins Losses Ties Points GF GA
1 Estevan Bruins 54 32 18 4 68 186 139
2 Melville Millionaires 54 31 18 5 67 246 178
3 Weyburn Red Wings 54 28 20 6 62 195 169
4 Moose Jaw Canucks 54 25 22 7 57 212 188
5 Regina Pats 54 22 24 8 52 210 195
6 Saskatoon Junior Quakers 54 16 34 4 36 175 270
7 Flin Flon Bombers 54 17 35 2 36 152 237

1963–64 season

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The Edmonton Oil Kings, a junior hockey team participating in the Central Alberta Hockey League for senior level teams, played an interlocking schedule of two games against each of the seven teams in the SJHL during the 1963–64 season.[30]

Rank Team Games Wins Losses Ties Points GF GA
1 Estevan Bruins 62 35 19 8 78 259 196
2 Regina Pats 62 31 22 9 71 332 249
3 Saskatoon Junior Quakers 62 32 27 3 67 290 287
4 Weyburn Red Wings 62 26 27 9 61 242 261
5 Moose Jaw Canucks 62 26 30 6 58 290 352
6 Flin Flon Bombers 62 19 32 11 49 262 304
7 Melville Millionaires 62 18 36 8 44 226 297
n/a Edmonton Oil Kings 14 9 2 3 21 88 43

1964–65 season

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Rank Team Games Wins Losses Ties Points GF GA
1 Regina Pats 56 38 10 8 84 314 195
2 Weyburn Red Wings 56 36 17 3 75 286 206
3 Brandon Wheat Kings 56 30 21 5 65 230 216
4 Estevan Bruins 56 27 26 3 57 245 211
5 Flin Flon Bombers 56 21 29 6 48 255 298
6 Saskatoon Blades 56 20 32 4 44 219 268
7 Moose Jaw Canucks 56 19 34 3 41 211 286
8 Melville Millionaires 56 13 35 8 34 207 287

1965–66 season

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Rank Team Games Wins Losses Ties Points GF GA
1 Estevan Bruins 60 44 11 5 93 373 155
2 Weyburn Red Wings 60 38 16 6 82 300 183
3 Brandon Wheat Kings 60 32 21 7 71 283 262
4 Moose Jaw Canucks 60 33 23 4 70 295 229
5 Regina Pats 60 28 25 7 63 312 260
6 Saskatoon Blades 60 20 37 3 43 240 310
7 Melville Millionaires 60 18 37 5 41 235 348
8 Flin Flon Bombers 60 8 51 1 17 199 490

References

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  1. ^ a b c "Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League [1948–1966] history and statistics". Hockey Database. Retrieved December 18, 2020.
  2. ^ a b Lapp, Richard M.; Macaulay, Alec (1997). The Memorial Cup: Canada's National Junior Hockey Championship. Madeira Park, British Columbia: Harbour Publishing. pp. 106–112. ISBN 1-55017-170-4.
  3. ^ Hooper, Al (August 2, 1954). "Three Replacements Sought For West Champs". Winnipeg Free Press. Winnipeg, Manitoba. p. 13. 
  4. ^ "Western Junior Hockey Men Seeking Entirely New Deal". Lethbridge Herald. Lethbridge, Alberta. July 29, 1954. p. 7. 
  5. ^ "CAHA Hopes To Reduce Budget To 55 Thousand". Winnipeg Tribune. Winnipeg, Manitoba. January 10, 1955. p. 16. 
  6. ^ "Frank Boucher". Legends of Hockey. Hockey Hall of Fame. Retrieved March 5, 2021.
  7. ^ "Proposed Super Junior Loop Hits Rocky Road". Winnipeg Free Press. Winnipeg, Manitoba. January 14, 1963. p. 24. 
  8. ^ "Potter Answers CAHA Criticism". Brandon Sun. Brandon, Manitoba. January 21, 1963. p. 7. 
  9. ^ Collins, Fred (January 19, 1963). "Heavy Fire Levelled At Potter, CAHA". Winnipeg Free Press. Winnipeg, Manitoba. p. 51. 
  10. ^ "Frank Threatens Sask. Withdrawal". Brandon Sun. Brandon, Manitoba. January 21, 1963. p. 7. 
  11. ^ "CAHA Raps Radiomen". Winnipeg Free Press. Winnipeg, Manitoba. April 16, 1963. p. 20. 
  12. ^ "CAHA Gives Special Concessions To West". Winnipeg Free Press. Winnipeg, Manitoba. July 13, 1968. p. 49. 
  13. ^ "1948–49 North Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League Standings". Hockey Database. Retrieved December 18, 2020.
  14. ^ a b "1949–50 North Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League Standings". Hockey Database. Retrieved December 18, 2020.
  15. ^ "1950–51 Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League Standings". Hockey Database. Retrieved December 18, 2020.
  16. ^ a b "1951–52 Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League Standings". Hockey Database. Retrieved December 18, 2020.
  17. ^ "Parry To Head New SJHL Loop". Medicine Hat News. Medicine Hat, Alberta. July 25, 1952. p. 3. 
  18. ^ "1952–53 Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League Standings". Hockey Database. Retrieved December 18, 2020.
  19. ^ "48 Games For Saskatchewan Puck Squads". Lethbridge Herald. Lethbridge, Alberta. August 17, 1953. p. 7. 
  20. ^ "1953–54 Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League Standings". Hockey Database. Retrieved December 18, 2020.
  21. ^ "1954–55 Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League Standings". Hockey Database. Retrieved December 18, 2020.
  22. ^ "1955–56 Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League Standings". Hockey Database. Retrieved December 18, 2020.
  23. ^ a b "1956–57 Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League Standings". Hockey Database. Retrieved December 18, 2020.
  24. ^ "1957–58 Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League Standings". Hockey Database. Retrieved December 18, 2020.
  25. ^ a b "1958–59 Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League Standings". Hockey Database. Retrieved December 18, 2020.
  26. ^ a b "1959–60 Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League Standings". Hockey Database. Retrieved December 18, 2020.
  27. ^ "1960–61 Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League Standings". Hockey Database. Retrieved December 18, 2020.
  28. ^ a b "1961–62 Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League Standings". Hockey Database. Retrieved December 18, 2020.
  29. ^ "1962–63 Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League Standings". Hockey Database. Retrieved December 18, 2020.
  30. ^ a b "1963–64 Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League Standings". Hockey Database. Retrieved December 18, 2020.
  31. ^ "1964–65 Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League Standings". Hockey Database. Retrieved December 18, 2020.
  32. ^ "1965–66 Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League Standings". Hockey Database. Retrieved December 18, 2020.
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