The Sask Valley Hockey League season came to an end last night in Dinsmore, as the Dynamos and Outlook Ice Hawks did battle to solidify the SVHL playoff picture.

We spoke with league president Trevor Drury prior to the big game, and he laid out the various playoff scenarios headed in. The third, fourth, and fifth seeds were still not settled, and SVHL rules also allow the top playoff seeds to choose their first round opponent.

The game began like a dream for Outlook as they jumped out to a 3-0 lead before Dinsmore finally answered, and they would get the game to a 3-2 mark shortly after the second period puck drop. From there another out-pour of Ice Hawks goals made it 7-2, though the Dynamos would make another comeback effort making it 7-5 about halfway through the third. The game would run out of steam from there as Outlook scored with eight minutes left in the third to seal their spot in the top half of the standings.

The chaos scenario would have seen a tie lead to the league working out a tiebreaker based on overall record, but Outlook taking the 8-5 win made things easy for scheduling as the rest of the league confirmed their playoff match-ups just hours after last nights final whistle. The upcoming playoff match-ups for the SVHL go as follows:

  • UPDATED SCHEDULE IN LINK BELOW

It was a great season in the Sask Valley as teams gear up for their first chance at a full playoff since the pandemic. West central SVHL teams do take up a fair bit of the league news, but some of the more impressive teams on the ice this year that Drury had to note were the Kenaston Blizzards and Central Butte Flyers.

“They aren’t a surprise, everybody knew they would be good, but Kenaston has had a really strong year,” started Drury, “As for other teams, Central Butte, with scheduling issues, had to play their last six games in a matter of nine days. In those nine days, they totaled six victories and gave themselves a chance to finish in 3rd. That was rather remarkable they were able to do that, including handing Kenaston their only loss of the season.”

Drury did single out Kyle and Eston for their continued success in the league, and commented on the parity of the teams taking the ice every night.

“Most nights you couldn’t choose a winner beforehand, so it’s been a pretty good year.”

Kenaston has been the leagues mainstay along with other teams making appearances, in the Saskatchewan acclaimed podcast Monday Nooner and their Senior Hockey Top 10 list that comes out weekly. Drury is happy with the extra attention it brings to the league, though its ranking system really can’t be proved until it comes to provys’ season. 

Speaking of provincials, some good SVHL crossover is set to take place with some other local teams out of the Sask West Hockey League.

On the B side, the Delisle Bruins are set to take on the Wilkie Outlaws, the Eston Ramblers will face-off against the Kindersley Sr. Klippers, while in the D bracket, the Kyle Elks will see the Kerrobert Tigers. The last big match-up between leagues will see Kenaston take on Macklin in the Provincial D series in what should be some good hockey. When it comes to teams that haven’t seen each other in a while, Klippers vs Ramblers may have to take the cake.

“Rivalry renewed, right?” said Drury.

According to former senior hockey player in Kindersley Chad Dorsett on the Sr. Klippers Facebook back when the provincial draws were announced, the last time Eston played Kindersley they were beaten badly 8-2 on the opening night for the Co-op Arena.

Story-lines are aplenty as postseason senior hockey gets into gear around the province. The Sask West Hockey League’s regular season will be finished following a rescheduled game between Kindersley and Unity on February 1st, but as for teams in the valley, their postseason begins Friday when Kyle takes on Loreburn to begin the first round of league playoffs as a great senior hockey season closes out in Saskatchewan.

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