The puck is set to drop for the first time this season in the Saskatchewan West Hockey League.

Organizers, volunteers, players, coaches, and fans are preparing for the first games of the 2016-2017 SWHL campaign scheduled for tonight.

Seven teams make up the league this season with six teams kicking off their seasons tonight:

  • The Biggar Nationals, runners-up from last year's playoffs, start their season at home versus the Macklin Mohawks.
  • Kindersley Red Lions play in front of their home fans tonight against the Kerrobert Tigers.
  • The Eatonia Memorial Arena will be the site of the Eatonia Huskies matchup with the Luseland/Dodsland Mallards.

Puck drop for all three games is set for 8:30 PM local time. The defending champion Wilkie Outlaws start their season on Remembrance Day against the Biggar Nationals.

Wilkie open their campaign with 6 games on the road and their home debut scheduled for mid-December. "Last year, Wilkie was without their rink all winter and Unity filled in for their home games," explained Ron Amy, President of the Saskatchewan West Hockey League. "So that would be good if they can get going by the weekend of the 16th of December."

Eight teams made up the league last season. But, it is a different story this season with the Unity Miners taking a year off from play. "They were just unable to get everybody together that they wanted to get together," said Amy, expanding on the reasons behind the Miners not participating this season. "It was disappointing for them because it happened late, and they didn't have time to organize and find players to fill in for the one's who were leaving."

He added how players have been preparing for a few weeks now, and are anxiously waiting to start the season.