What Hockey Team Is in Saskatchewan? (Pro, University, Juniors)

In 1921, Saskatchewan got its first two professional hockey teams: the Regina Capitals and the Saskatoon Sheiks.

The two teams joined the newly introduced professional hockey league: the Western Canada Hockey League (WCHL) which was the first professional ice hockey league based out of the Canadian prairies.

In 1925, it was renamed as the Western Hockey League (WHL) before eventually disbanding in 1926.

In this article, I’ll show you what professional hockey teams are in Saskatchewan and what university and junior hockey teams compete in the province.

Pssssst! Are you curious about hockey teams in other Canadian provinces? You can learn more by checking out our other posts: What Hockey Team Is in Quebec and What Hockey Team Is in Prince Edward Island.

Let’s dive in.

Here’s What Hockey Teams Are In Saskatchewan:

Saskatchewan’s top hockey teams are the University of Saskatchewan Huskies and the University of Regina Cougars (D1 hockey teams). The top junior hockey teams (in the WHL) are the Moose Jaw Warriors, Prince Albert Raiders, Regina Pats, Saskatoon Blades, and Swift Current Broncos.

Does Saskatchewan Have a Hockey Team?

So, what is Saskatchewan’s hockey team?

Saskatchewan has dozens of high-level hockey teams but no current professional teams.

The top hockey teams in the province are two D1 hockey teams:

The University of Saskatchewan Huskies and the University of Regina Cougars which compete within the Canada West Universities Athletic Association of the U Sports League.

The top junior hockey teams compete within the Western Hockey League (WHL) which includes the Moose Jaw Warriors, Prince Albert Raiders, Regina Pats, Saskatoon Blades, and Swift Current Broncos.

Are There Any NHL Teams in Saskatchewan?

So, will you find an NHL hockey team in Saskatchewan?

Unfortunately, not. But, Saskatchewan was once home to several professional teams that competed in various leagues over the years:

Western Canada Hockey League

The Western Canada Hockey League was the first professional hockey league in Saskatchewan and included the Saskatoon Sheiks and the Regina Capitals which both competed in the 1920s.

Original Western Hockey League

The original Western Hockey League (not to be confused with the current major junior hockey league) included the Saskatoon Quakers and the Saskatoon/St. Paul Regals which both competed in the 1950s.

NHL Players from Saskatchewan

While Saskatchewan doesn’t have its own NHL team, the province is home to some of the most prominent hockey players in the world, including legend Gordie Howe, who is from Floral, Saskatchewan.

NHL Players Born in Saskatchewan:

Gordie Howe
Bryan Trottier
Patrick Marleau
Theo Fleury
Wendel Clark
Ryan Getzlaf
Jordan Eberle
Chris Kunitz
Brayden Schenn
Luke Schenn
Brenden Morrow
Glenn Hall
Mike Sillinger
Scott Hartnell
Tyler Bozak
Cam Ward
Jaden Schwartz
Mathew Dumba
Chandler Stephenson
Tiger Williams
Jeff Friesen
Blake Comeau
Curtis Glencross
Brandon Hagel
Brayden McNabb
Barry Pederson
Brent Ashton

What Hockey Teams Are in Saskatchewan?

So, what hockey teams are in Saskatchewan? Saskatchewan has had several professional hockey teams over the years, but currently doesn’t have a professional team. Instead, the top hockey teams in the province are University D1 teams and junior hockey teams as listed below:

NHL

Saskatchewan doesn’t have an NHL team. While they have had a few different professional hockey teams over the years, they haven’t had one compete in the NHL.

Hockey fans from Saskatchewan typically cheer for the Edmonton Oilers or Calgary Flames to the West in Alberta or the Winnipeg Jets to the East in Manitoba.

AHL

The AHL is a high-level professional sports league just one step below the NHL.

Saskatchewan doesn’t currently have a professional hockey team that competes within the American Hockey League (AHL).

D1 University Hockey

While Saskatchewan is better known for its junior hockey, the province has two D1 university hockey teams that compete within the Canada West Universities Athletic Association (CWUAA). The CWUAA is a part of the U Sports League, the top tier university sports league in Canada.

The two Saskatchewan teams in the CWUAA are the U of S Huskies from Saskatoon which has been around for over 100 years and the U of R Cougars from Regina which was established in 1985.

College Hockey

In addition to D1 university hockey, Canada’s breadbasket also is home to one college hockey team: the Briercrest College Clippers based in Caronport, Saskatchewan.

The Clippers were established in 19997 and compete within the Alberta Colleges Athletics Conference (ACAC).

Junior Hockey

Wondering what teams are in the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League?

Well, Saskatchewan has over 30 junior ice hockey teams spread across five leagues.

Here are all the junior hockey teams in Saskatchewan, broken down by the different leagues:

Saskatchewan Western Hockey League (WHL – Major Junior) Teams:

Moose Jaw Warriors
Prince Albert Raiders
Regina Pats
Saskatoon Blades
Swift Current Broncos

Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL – Junior A) Teams:

Lloydminster Bobcats

Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL – Junior A) Teams:

Battlefords North Stars
Estevan Bruins
Humboldt Broncos
Kindersley Klippers
La Ronge Ice Wolves
Melfort Mustangs
Melville Millionaires
Nipawin Hawks
Notre Dame Hounds
Weyburn Red Wings
Yorkton Terriers

Prairie Junior Hockey League (Junior B) Teams:

Carrot River Outback Thunder
Delisle Chiefs
Prince Albert Timberjacks
Saskatoon Quakers
Saskatoon Royals
Saskatoon Westleys
Whitefish Flyers
Assiniboia Southern Rebels
Fort Knox
Pilot Butte Storm
Regina Capitals
Regina Silver Foxes

Qu’Appelle Valley Hockey League (Junior C) Teams:

Emerald Park Wizards
Lumsden Lumberjaxx
Ochapowace Thunder
Regina River Rats
Regina Shamrocks
Wolseley Mustangs
Yellow Grass Wheat Kings

Is There High School Hockey in Saskatchewan?

Yes, there is high school hockey in Saskatchewan. The province has one primary league: the Canadian Sport School Hockey League (CSSHL).

Canadian Sport School Hockey League (CSSHL)

The Canadian Sport School Hockey League (CSSHL) is Canada’s highest-tier high school league in Saskatchewan. It’s a high-level national league that features high school teams from across the country.

Saskatchewan has two teams that compete within the Prep West Division of the CSSHL: Prairie Hockey Academy and Notre Dame Hounds.

Here are all the teams in the CSSHL’s Prep West (bolded are Saskatchewan teams):

Edge School (AB)
BWC Academy (BC)
Yale Hockey Academy (BC)
South Saskatchewan Hockey Academy (AB)
Okanagan Hockey Academy (BC)
Prairie Hockey Academy (SK)
St. George’s School (BC)
Northern Saskatchewan Xtreme (AB)
Shawnigan Lake School (BC)
RINK Hockey Academy Winnipeg (MB)
Pacific Coast Hockey Academy (BC)
RINK Hockey Academy Kelowna (BC)
Delta Hockey Academy (BC)
International Hockey Academy (AB)
OHA Edmonton (AB)
North Shore Warriors (BC)
Notre Dame Hounds (SK)
Coeur d’Alene Hockey Academy (ID)
Wenatchee Wild (WA)
Pilot Mound Hockey Academy (MB)

Could Regina Support an NHL Team?

Wondering if Regina could have its own NHL team? Or, maybe you’re curious why doesn’t Saskatoon have NHL team?

Well, the sad reality is that these cities are simply too small to support an NHL franchise.

Saskatoon only has a population of about 300,000 while Regina has a population of about 250,000.

To put it in perspective, Winnipeg, Manitoba next door has a metropolitan population of about 875,000 and it struggles to get enough fans into Winnipeg Jets games.

While ice hockey is a major part of many people’s lives in Saskatchewan, the population is just too small.

The province is home to only about 1.2 million people, many of whom live too far outside of the major cities to make it worthwhile to have an NHL team.

Are you curious to know what hockey teams compete in different U.S. states? Be sure to check out our post: Hockey Teams in Every U.S. State: Complete NHL & College List (2023).