After a year off the ice, the Eatonia Huskies will be returning to the Sask West Hockey League (SWHL) for the 2019-2020 senior hockey season.

Last year the team’s decision not to enter a team was made for them, after they were unable to secure a goaltender. After many players expressed an interest in getting back on the ice, Huskies general manager, Sam Somerville, made a call to a recruiter looking for a goalie to complete the team.

“At the start of August, I called a player agent I had 20 years ago – he said I was calling kind of late but he would try and secure us a goalie and three days later he said he could, so then I called all of our past players and talked with some other guys and put a team together.”

In addition to players from the Huskies past, Somerville, who has been apart of the Huskies for upwards of 20 years, said he got a tremendous amount of interest from younger players who came out of midget a year ago and are eager to get going with the senior team.

The resurrected Huskies will include approximately 14 younger players coming up from the midget league, plus upwards of nine returning players, including imports that Somerville had on the team three years ago.

After raising funds for the rink and having so many players wanting to play last year, it was an obvious disappointment to sit out last year, but Somerville said that year off has lit the fire within the team for this season.

“A year off of hockey is absolutely brutal, especially when we raised money for the new roof at the rink and we want to get back to where we were. Lots of people stepped up and we’re going to put together a newer, leaner, meaner, faster executive and we’re going to forge ahead.”

Somerville added the future of the team, following this upcoming season, is also looking bright, as many of the younger players should carry the Huskies into the years to come.

Former head coach to the Huskies, Jason Hennes, will also be returning into his previously held position for the 2019-2020 season, along with team manager, Troy Becker. Although the pieces of the team are being put together, Somerville said they are still in need of a trainer as well as volunteers throughout the season.

In addition to an exciting new line-up of players, Huskies fans will also be witness to new jersey’s for the new season along with brand new lighting throughout the Eatonia rink.

“It’s honestly just all new and exciting, we got a great group of guys and we can’t wait to put a team back on the ice” said Somerville.

The schedule has not yet been released for the SWHL’s upcoming season, but Somerville said the Huskies will be in the rink for their first practice as soon as they can.

Fans can get their hands on season tickets as the team will be set up at Eatonia’a Fall Trade Show on October 26, 2019.