The 2017–18 Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League was the league's 50th Season. The Nipawin Hawks won the Canalta Cup and were runners up to the Steinbach Pistons in the ANAVET Cup.
The season was nearly halted before the championship series following the Humboldt Broncos bus crash on April 6, 2018. On April 11, 2018, league officials announced plans to proceed with the final games of the season after what was described as an intensive, grueling decision by the league's Board of Governors.
Nipawin departed from its usual black and yellow colour scheme for the series, wearing green helmets in honour of the Broncos, while both teams wore memorial ribbon patches on their jerseys.
Final standings
x = Clinched playoff position y = Clinched division e = Eliminated from playoffs
Viterra Division y – Estevan Bruins 58 34 19 3 2 73 .629 239 184x – Weyburn Red Wings 58 29 23 5 1 64 .552 184 183x – Melville Millionaires 58 23 31 2 2 50 .431 155 188e – Yorkton Terriers 58 13 40 3 2 31 .267 136 280
Global Ag Risk Solutions Division y – Battlefords North Stars 58 42 14 2 0 86 .741 229 142x – Humboldt Broncos 58 33 19 3 3 72 .621 203 165x – Kindersley Klippers 58 29 22 4 3 65 .560 170 174x – Notre Dame Hounds 58 29 24 1 4 63 .543 192 174
Sherwood Division y – Nipawin Hawks 58 43 8 3 4 93 .802 232 131x – Melfort Mustangs 58 39 13 4 2 84 .724 227 157x – Flin Flon Bombers 58 24 26 3 5 56 .483 194 216e – La Ronge Ice Wolves 58 10 45 0 3 23 .198 125 292
Playoffs
Humboldt Broncos bus crash
On April 6, 2018, the Humboldt Broncos team bus crashed on an intersection near Armley, Saskatchewan resulting in the deaths of 16 people and injuring 13 others, including players. At the time, the Nipawin Hawks had a 3-1 lead over the Broncos, while the Estevan Bruins were waiting to play in the league finals.
As a result, the game was not played and the Nipawin Hawks advanced to the league finals.
ANAVET Cup
References