Stampeders senior hockey team folds for second year

The Stampeders senior hockey team won’t take the ice for the second straight season due to travel concerns.

Formerly part of the North Sask. River Hockey League (NSRHL) which folded at the end of the 2014-2015 season, team president Brad Villeneuve said many teams feel Meadow Lake is too far to travel to for a game.

“A lot of the teams in these leagues get players from Saskatoon and they don’t want that extra travel to Meadow Lake,” he said.

Saskatoon is roughly a three hour drive from M.L.. Taking into account game and driving time, each game would be a roughly nine hour day.

Villeneuve added most teams agree to come once a year, but having a heavy road schedule would be too costly and not make much sense.

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In early fall, Villeneuve met with the Larres brothers, who run the St. Walburg senior hockey team, about finding teams to reform the NSRHL. However, Villeneuve said the brothers didn’t communicate they were applying for the Sask. Alta. Hockey League, which they were accepted into.

“One thing I learned in this process, don’t trust anybody’s word and in this day and age with good highways, cell phones and good vehicles, travel should not be a problem,” Villeneuve said.

Villeneuve’s next approach was the Sask. West Hockey League (SWHL), who declined letting the Stamps in last year and again this year due to ‘travel’ concerns. Kinderlsey, Biggar, Macklin and towns in west-central Saskatchewan form the SWHL, a drive of over three hours one way for any team.

Again taking into account game time, traveling home and the fact the players have full-time jobs as well, teams felt Meadow Lake was too far to travel.

From there, Villeneuve applied to the Sask. Alta. Hockey League but was too late with the application and travel was again an issue.

Not giving up, Villeneuve met with Fort Carleton Hockey League brass but was rejected for the third time because of travel issues.

Then, Villeneuve went to the Saskatchewan Prairie Hockey League fall meeting and made a proposal to join their league.

“It seemed to go good,” he said. “We had to pay a big bond to join, which we agreed on and we also offered travel money but we were declined because the league didn’t want to expand.”

Villeneuve offered $5,000 to let the team join and $300 a game for travel.

As a last ditch effort, Villeneuve tried to get the Stampeders into the Beaver Lakes Hockey League, the same one the Broncos play in. However, there were thoughts there would be a conflict in town with two teams. With the Broncos and Big River being the only voting powers, they were turned away.  

“They felt it could be a problem of losing players even though the BLHL looks like it’s in trouble like the NSRHL was with teams leaving,” Villeneuve said.

So far, Birch Hills has left the BLHL to join a league closer to Saskatoon.

Villeneuve plans on attending spring meetings for other potential leagues and said he’ll work hard to find a league for next year.

“For the city and the fans, I will find a league next year if I have to start a new one. My main focus is to keep the 40 plus year tradition of the Stampeders going,” he said.

Colton Swiderski is meadowlakeNOW’s municipal affairs, crime and court, health and education reporter. He can be reached at cswiderski@jpbg.ca or tweet him @coltonswiderski.