By WAYNE SHIELS

Hockey Saskatchewan provincial playoffs are a long-standing hockey tradition, and several area teams are looking to raise championship banners to the rafters of their local rinks.

There will be 257 teams competing across 26 draws ranging from U13D to Senior A.

The series begins between teams from nearby areas of the province, and winners advance to play regional winners from other areas.

The Hockey Saskatchewan website (hockeysask.ca) contains up-to-date information on when and where each game takes place, as well as updated results.

Teams compete in each division based on the size of the communities that they hail from, and champions are named by the end of March.

While championship banners are the ultimate goal, the playoffs themselves provide an opportunity for community pride to be front and centre, and highlight the hard work of players, coaches, executives and volunteers across the province, throughout the year.

The following provincial playoff series featuring area teams are on the agenda starting in February.

Female Under-13B

Clavet vs Big River

Delisle vs Western Prairie

Female Under-13A

Rosthern vs Martensville with winner playing Warman

Under 13 D

Clavet vs Naicam 

Muenster vs Aberdeen

Under 13C

Langham vs Hudson Bay

Under 13B

Nipawin vs Hague

Under 13A

Warman vs Swift Current

Battlefords vs Martensville

Under 15D

Clavet vs Dodsland

Under 15B

Hague vs Kindersley

Under 15A

Warman vs Martensville

Delisle vs Battlefords

Under 18D

Delisle vs Eston

Under 18B

Waldheim vs Kindersley

Under 18A

Carrot River vs Warman

Martensville vs Meadow Lake. 

Senior D

Delisle vs Perdue