After a week of mourning the tragic bus accident involving the Humboldt Broncos, the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League will return to action Saturday night.
In what was a unanimous decision by the league's board of governors, it was decided Wednesday in a conference call that the league final between the Nipawin Hawks and the Estevan Bruins will take place and will get underway Saturday night in Estevan.
“We had a gruelling decision to make with respects on how we can pay tribute and honour the Humboldt Broncos," SJHL president Bill Chow said in a statement.
“On behalf of the Board of Governors, this intensive decision has been made and that decision is to carry through and finish off the 2017-2018 season. The league will play hockey.”
At the time of Friday's accident north of Tisdale, the Broncos were trailing the Hawks 3-1 in their semifinal series, while the Bruins had advanced to the final after defeating the defending champion Battlefords North Stars.
A lengthy title drought will end when the best-of-seven series for the Canalta Cup gets underway, as the Hawks last won the title in 1990 and the Bruins haven't captured a championship since 1999.
The winner of the series, which will conclude on Tuesday, Apri 24 at the latest, will then advance to the Anavet Cup to face the winner of the Manitoba Junior Hockey League championship for a spot at the RBC Cup national championship in Chilliwack, B.C. next month.
The MJHL final will resume Thursday with the Virden Oil Capitals holding a 1-0 lead over the Steinbach Pistons.
