After 2 years, Sask. Junior Female Hockey League looking to expand

Nikki Stewart joined a university hockey team straight out of high school. In retrospect, she believes she could have benefited from a year of junior hockey first — something more female hockey players in Saskatchewan could soon have a chance to do.

When Stewart was in high school, the Saskatchewan Junior Female Hockey League did not exist. It was started two years ago.

Now an assistant coach in the under-22 SJFHL, Stewart sees the league as an opportunity for younger players to develop their skills, or to give them an option during a gap year before playing college hockey.

"I think there is a huge number of female hockey players between the ages of 18 and 22 that want to pursue hockey outside of their high school years," Stewart said.

And now, the league is looking at a growth spurt.

The boards of directors of both Hockey Saskatchewan and the SJFHL are calling for applications from communities interested in joining the league for the upcoming season. 

Just in the past year, Stewart said she's noticed the league and her team — the Outlook Mainline Ice Hawks — have garnered more interest.

In addition to the Ice Hawks, the league currently has five other teams: the Regina Junior Rebels, Saskatoon Prairie Blaze, Lumsden Lynx, Southwest Impact and Western Prairie Klippers.

Stewart said she could see a benefit to adding two more teams, especially for players in the northern part of the province.

Kelly McClintock, general manager of Hockey Saskatchewan, said there isn't a specific number of new teams he intends to award franchises in the league, but he wants to generate interest in the game. 

Like Stewart, McClintock said the league gives women a chance to continue playing at a competitive level, and offers a stepping stone to