SJHL: Notre Dame conditionally approves move to Warman

The Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League’s (SJHL) 2025-2026 season is getting a bit of a shake-up with the relocation of a team that’s been developing players for 38 years.

On Tuesday it was announced that the SJHL’s Board of Governors has “conditionally approved the location of the Notre Dame Hounds to the community of Warman.”

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Commissioner Kyle McIntyre said, “It is bittersweet having a historical program like the Notre Dame Junior A Hounds leave the SJHL. We understand that there is a new and exciting vision for Notre Dame. We appreciate the Board’s focus on player well-being and experience and are excited about the possibility of adding a strong and progressive new leadership group to our league in Saskatchewan’s fastest-growing city.”

If the move happens the Hounds players and assets will be transferred to the Warman SJHL franchise and discontinue the Junior A Programming at Wilcox.

“Our goal is to partner with the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League to offer players an excellent experience and opportunity to showcase their talents, within a community deeply invested in their success while instilling valuable life skills beyond hockey,” said Warman Co-Founders Cole Kachur and Jonathan Abrametz.

“Warman’s vibrant atmosphere, state-of-the-art arena, and enthusiasm for hockey at all levels, will make the new Warman SJHL franchise a destination for some of the top junior hockey players in Canada.”

The last say has to come from the Warman City Council, in addition to community corporate sponsorship and a good ticket season.

Since 1987, the modern SJHL Hounds have “provided outstanding opportunities for young men to pursue their academic and hockey futures.”