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There are plenty of mixed emotions for Head Coach/General Manager of the Humboldt Broncos Brayden Klimosko regarding the Notre Dame Hounds pending relocation to Warman for the 2025-26 Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL) season.
“You can almost say it’s bittersweet,” said Klimosko, “With Notre Dame being an organization that’s been a big part of the SJHL for many years. It’s sad to see them go, but with Warman having a team with a closer proximity to Humboldt, that’s exciting as well.”
On Tuesday, the league announced it had conditionally approved the transfer of the Notre Dame Hounds to Warman. Approval is still needed from the City Council in Warman, along with a successful season ticket and corporate sponsorship drive. Final approval from the SJHL is set for the league’s governors meeting in June. But all indications at this point are the Hounds will be heading to Warman next season.
The Hounds rejoined the SJHL in 1987 after originally competing from 1970-76. In the first back campaign back in the SJHL, the Hounds would go on to win the league championship that featured NHLers in their lineup in Rod Brind’Amour and Curtis Joseph.
The 1987-88 league championship was the only league title claimed by the Hounds. They finished on top of the league standings on two occasions, 1988-89 but were eliminated by the Nipawin Hawks in the semifinals, and once again in 2001-02, before the Broncos finished off in the semifinals.
In 2015, the Hounds made their final appearance in the SJHL championship finals before they were swept by the Melfort Mustangs in four games.
Inside of the Hounds rink in Wilcox, the Duncan McNeill Arena in Wilcox is a picture gallery of legendary athletes that have spent time at Athol Murray College of Notre Dame. Klimosko has spent a lot of time in the arena both as a coach and player and says it’s hard not to notice tradition that existed in Wilcox.
“I think that’s what you’re going to miss that rink with that much history and prestige that’s around it.”
The storied legacy of the Hounds program isn’t the only unique feature of the team. The dimensions of the Duncan McNeill Arena are the same as an Olympic sized rink (200x100), making it the largest ice surface in the SJHL. As a player, the Broncos Head Coach/GM was known more for his grit as opposed to speed, and didn’t enjoy logging the extra miles when he faced off against the Hounds.
“For me I hated it,” chuckled the former Broncos player, “me being a bigger guy that didn’t move up and down the sheet as others, I got tired there pretty quick.”
With the Hounds located in Wilcox, a village of 261 residents according to the 2021 Census of Population by Stats Canada, there was plenty of vacancy inside of the Duncan McNeil Arena during SJHL games outside of some playoff contests. Klimosko said it wasn’t easy playing in the rink without a buzz from the audience, especially the games that began with an 8:00 opening faceoff.
“It was good for the opener because they had the student body, but other than that it was pretty quiet and usually the later starts were hard, it was sometimes hard to get your guys up for those games.”
On the positive side of the Hounds relocation, the SJHL will welcome in a new city in Warman. The last time the league expanded to a new community was the La Ronge Ice Wolves, back in 1998.
According to the 2021 census, Warman has a population of 12,419, which is nearly double their population from the 2011 census of 7,104. Along with its neighbour city, Martensville with a population over 10,000 and surrounding communities including Dalmeny and Osler, there is no doubt Warman will represent the biggest market within the SJHL since its ventures in Saskatoon with the Titans in 1991 and the relocation of the Rage in 1998.
Only 128 km separates Humboldt and Warman. Klimosko is definitively looking forward to a shorter bus ride compared to the 276 km trip from Humboldt to Wilcox.
“It’s going to be nice for divisional purposes,” said the Broncos Head Coach/GM, “should be some good crowds both ways.”
A bonus with Warman’s location, near Saskatoon, many families of Bronco players will have an additional short drive to watch the team in person.
Even without a team, the City of Warman is no stranger to the SJHL. In the past, Warman has hosted the Showcase, a multi-day event featuring all 12 SJHL teams. This past November, it was the site for the Western All-Star Challenge, a selection camp for training camp spots for the Team Canada West entry in the World Junior ‘A’ Challenge. With a facility like the Warman Home Centre Communiplex offering plenty of amenities for a SJHL franchise, Klimosko says it will be a welcome addition to the league on a full-time basis.
“I think it should be one of the best facilities in the SJHL.”
The Broncos and Hounds have traditionally opened the SJHL season with a season opening weekend home and home set. While the schedule for the upcoming 2025-25 season hasn’t been determined yet, Klimosko would welcome the opportunity to make history and be involved in the opening games for the franchise in Warman.
“It would be really cool.”
The Notre Dame Hounds will make their final appearance in Humboldt on Saturday, March 8. The Broncos have already played their four games in Wilcox, with their final encounter resulting in a 4-3 overtime victory on January 15.
Notre Dame’s final regular season game is scheduled for Sunday, March 16 as they host the Melfort Mustangs at the Duncan McNeil Arena.