A newly formed hockey league is coming to Saskatchewan, and a lot of young southwest talent is getting geared up to play. 

The Saskatchewan Junior Female Hockey League (SJFHL) is nearing the start of its inaugural season, which begins October 7. The six-team league has clubs located in Gull Lake/Swift Current, Kindersley, Lumsden, Outlook, Regina, and Saskatoon. 

Payton Stenson has just signed on as a member of the newly formed Southwest Impact. 

“We’ve got quite a few girls from all around the southwest coming together,” stated Stenson. “Our numbers started out low, but once one person came from a town, all of a sudden, five more would come. It really helps that we’ve spread out.” 

Provincially the SJFHL is the only competitive U22 women’s league outside of college and university leagues, and it will provide those coming out of U18 leagues with a chance to continue the sport they love.  

“No one wants to give up sports when they love them, so it's awesome to continue playing,” said Stenson. 

Raya Erickson, a member of the Lumsden Lynx, has been waiting for this opportunity. 

“There was just a huge callout for another opportunity for females to play in a competitive league,” stated Erickson. “There are other provinces that have another competitive league besides college, so I guess it was just our time as Saskatchewan to do that.” 

The Southwest Impact will have its home opener against the Lumsden Lynx in Gull Lake on October 7 at 6:30 p.m., with a rematch the next day at 2:45 p.m. in Swift Current. 

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