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When the ice chips cleared Peguis had peaked and won their second straight KJHL title
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Peguis Juniors 2017 KJHL Champions
SELKIRK – For the Keystone Junior Hockey League , the 2016-17 season was one of changes .
Last season , the league decided to divide the 10-team league into three divisions with OCN , Cross Lake and Norway House in the North ; Arborg , Peguis and Fisher River in the Central ; and Selkirk , St . Malo , North Winnipeg and Lundar in the South .
The new divisions worked like a charm as Arborg , the Host Community for the 2017 Keystone Cup , and Peguis battled in the Central ; OCN and Cross Lake developed a rivalry in the North ; and St . Malo and Selkirk battled to the bitter end in the South .
When the ice chips cleared , the Peguis Juniors had peaked , played brilliantly in the playoffs and won their second straight KJHL Provincial Jr . B title in six games over the hard-working Arborg Ice Dawgs .
This year , Peguis will indeed challenge again , but look out for at least six or seven other clubs to challenge . As KJHL spokesman Grant Heather says , “ If there is one thing about the upcoming 2017-18 season , it ’ s parity .” “ It ’ s going to be a really competitive season ,” said Heather . “ Norway House is a little older and they ’ ll be much better , OCN , Selkirk , Peguis and St . Malo are always good , Arborg was great last year , Cross Lake , North Winnipeg and Lundar are all improved . Parity is definitely the word .”
If there is one major , noticeable difference this season it ’ s that the Keystone Cup Western Canada Championship , as we ’ ve come to know , is no more . British Columbia and Alberta have pulled out of the competition leaving Saskatchewan , Manitoba and Northwestern Ontario to decide if they want to come together for a regional championship tournament at the end of the year .
“ I guess B . C . and Alberta got tired of winning ,” said Heather . “ I can ’ t spin it any other way . I think I can safely say that right now , I ’ m not sure what will happen , but there will be a Keystone Cup in some form .”
Indeed . And that tournament , if it takes place next spring , will be just as competitive as this year ’ s KJHL is shaping up to be . Let ’ s take a close look at all 10 teams to see what we can expect this year .
SEPTEMBER 2017 | GAME ON | 39