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