Frequently Asked Questions

Providing families with important and timely information is just as crucial to us as following through with the delivery of the program. That's why we've decided to take the wide variety of questions we've been asked, along with a number of question we have not yet been asked, and built a FAQ page.

This page is constantly growing and being organized for the convenience of existing and prospective families alike. We want it to genuinely resemble a real conversation with us. If you have a question we have not yet covered on this page, please send it in. We can answer it for you and make sure the same information is available for the next family!

Q: What league do the Saskatchewan Selects Hockey Club teams play in?
A: The Premier Hockey League (PHL)

Q: Is this a tournament team?
A: No. The teams play in showcases roughly once per month.

Q: What is the difference between a showcase and a tournament?
A: A showcase is a weekend where league teams converge on a location to play their league games for the month. A tournament has a round robin play, then quarter, semi and final games before a champion is decided.

Q: When, where and how often do teams practice?
A: Practices are currently on weekends only. They take place in Imperial. The aim is always to have one 2 hour practice Saturday and one 2 hour practice Sunday.

Q: How many games do the teams play throughout the year?
A: Roughly 34 games between league games, exhibition games, tournament games and playoffs.

Q: What is included in the program fees?
A: Insurance, league fees, showcase fees, practice ice, specialty training, equipment and apparel package - just to name a few.

Q: What level of hockey is this?
A: All things considered, this is comparable to a variety of different 'AA' hockey programs in Saskatchewan.

Q: How is discipline approached in the organization and in the league as a whole?
A: Our values and standards are parallel to those of the league. We support their efforts to maintain their standards as much as they support us in the maintenance of our own values and standards. We take this very seriously and no one, not ourselves, coaches, managers, players, parents etc are above the need to maintain a respectable and forward moving environment.

Q: From refunds to attendance, why are the formal agreements so strictly enforced?
A: Giving hundreds of people the benefit of the doubt and trusting them to honour their commitments to the team and organization is bad management on our part. It is also a disservice to the program and the families within it who do honour their commitments. We made this mistake before and will never do it again. Our strict enforcement of the agreements are equally designed to deter the wrong people from joining the program, bringing out the best version of the people who do, protecting the invested interests of those in the program and the integrity of the program itself. In past, the only people who have had an issue with this or been on the wrong side of this are the people who have proven to be very misaligned with the selfless values and standards of the program. We handle these instances with every bit of professionalism and respect that we can. We never know what's going on in someone's life. We try to strike a balance between doing what is best for our organization, while still being considerate of the human being on the other side, even if they aren't being nice or fair. The right people to us are more preoccupied with positively contributing their part to the common goals of the organization and their team. The more people or links in the chain who put 100% of what they can give into this, the better.

Q: What do we think about sanctioned organizations?
A: They do great stuff for minor hockey and have been for years. We have a lot of respect for their accomplishments over the years. Other than that, the answer is: indifferent. For example: if they make a move in their best interest and it ends up negatively affecting us - we're indifferent. We don't complain or make excuses. We just keep chipping away at team and organizational goals. We hope it sets a good example and standard of behaviour for the members of our organization.

Q: Do the teams take buses to showcase weekends?
A: The members of the team can decide amongst themselves if this is something additional they want to do.

Q: How many players are on each team and how many players dress for each game?
A: The numbers we aim for are: 9 forwards, 6 defense and 2 goalies. If there happen to be attendance issues, these numbers may rise. Rest assured, if you are regularly and consistently at practices and games your experience will not be affected.

Q: What leagues are pursuing PHL players?
A: BCHL, AJHL, KIJHL, other Tier II & Tier III junior leagues across Canada and the US. At the minor levels, players advance to AAA and CSSHL Prep.

Q: What motivates SSHC to prioritize a well-rounded experience for players and families, both in and beyond hockey?
A: At SSHC, we focus on creating a meaningful experience by recognizing that only a small percentage of players will make a living from playing hockey. We take the time to educate players and their families about the many opportunities in hockey—many of which are often unknown or overlooked—helping to inspire those who may have felt discouraged about their potential. Beyond the ice, we also emphasize the broader career possibilities within the sport and encourage players to explore their passions in any field. Ultimately, our mission is to empower our players and families to realize their full potential, both in hockey and in life, and to be known as an organization where alumni are fulfilling their dreams doing what they love.