Blaine Weyland

Saskatchewan Internet Child Exploitation (ICE) Unit is on pace for its busiest year ever. 

These cases include investigating crimes involving the abuse and/or exploitation of infants, children and teens on the Internet. 

Back in 2021-22, the unit had 853 files. In 2022-23, the number of files increased to 931. The 2023-24 fiscal year saw 1,003. Investigators are currently on pace to reach 1,317 new files for the upcoming fiscal year.  

The U13 A Humboldt Broncos are heading to the ‘B’ Provincial finals. 

On Sunday, Humboldt completed their two-game sweep of the Meadow Lake Stampeders in the North Final with a 11-3 win at the Elgar Petersen Arena.  

Humboldt will meet the Moosomin Rangers in the Provincial final. They advanced after defeating the Shaunavon Badgers in the South final.  

Championship finals are underway in Senior Hockey Leagues throughout the province.  

The Long Lake Hockey League championship finals has now turned into a best of three after the Foam Lake Flyers and Drake Canucks split the first two games of the series. On Friday night, Foam Lake earned a 4-2 win over Drake. There will be a short break for the Long Lake finals as the Flyers compete in the ‘C’ Provincial finals. Game three will be on Friday, March 28 in Foam Lake.  

The Humboldt Broncos did their part on Friday picking up a 6-1 win over the Nipawin Hawks on Friday night, but they didn’t get any help from the Kindersley Klippers, as the Battlefords North Stars swept the home and home set to claim the Nutrien Division and the sixth seed in the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League standings.  

As a result, the Broncos will head north for their first-round matchup against the Flin Flon Bombers, who finished second overall during the regular season.  

The Elgar Petersen Arena will be buzzing on Sunday afternoon as the U13 A Humboldt Broncos host the Meadow Lake Stampeders in game two of the north final of the ‘B’ Provincials. Humboldt defeated Meadow Lake in game one of the series last Sunday. The south final will be decided on Saturday between the Moosomin Rangers and Shaunavon Badgers, Moosomin leads 1-0 in that series. 

A couple of Watrous teams are still alive in provincial hockey playoffs.  

It seemed like yesterday the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL) dropped the puck on the 2024-25 regular season. 

Tonight, the Humboldt Broncos will close out the regular season in Nipawin against the Hawks. The good news for the Broncos, their season will not conclude as they have clinched a playoff spot, where they finish remains undetermined.  

Senior Hockey League action is beginning to wind up around the province.  

In the Long Lake Hockey League, game two of championship finals is tonight in Drake as the Canucks host the Foam Lake Flyers. Drake leads the best of five series 1-0 after they picked up a 4-3 win in Foam Lake on Tuesday. Game three will take place in two weeks on Friday, March 28 in Foam Lake. 

March madness continues in Saskatchewan this weekend with High School Basketball Regionals across the province.  

The St. Brieux Crusaders will be hosting the 2A Boys and Girls Regionals with games on Friday and Saturday as both teams enter as the number one seed.  

Head Coach Ryan Trumbley said that both teams are carrying over the success they experienced last year. 

The provincial budget in Saskatchewan will be delivered on Wednesday, March 19. 

But on Tuesday, during the Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities, the provincial government announced one aspect of the budget, with the details of the Municipal Revenue Sharing (MRS).  

Communities in the province will receive a record MRS, with $361.8 million, an increase of $21.5 million or 6.3 per cent from last year. 

On Tuesday, the Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities (SARM) Convention began with an announcement from the Saskatchewan government about dealing with derelict buildings. 

The Saskatchewan Government announced that it will be developing a pilot framework allowing participating municipalities to work with volunteer fire departments to safely dispose of problem, municipal-owned structures for fire fighter training exercises.