SOUTHEAST SASKATCHEWAN - The winter storm lashing southeast Saskatchewan has forced the postponement of the first two games of this year's McLeod Series.
The venerable best-of-four basketball showdown, which pits the senior boys' and girls' basketball teams from the Estevan Comprehensive School and the Weyburn Comprehensive School, was supposed to kick off Feb. 5 in Weyburn. But the storm has scuttled those plans.
"Please watch for an upcoming announcement with the rescheduled dates," ECS said in a post on its Facebook page.
There was no word on how this would impact the second half of the series, slated for Feb. 12 at the Estevan Comprehensive School's gymnasium.
The Elecs are the defending champions of the McLeod Series. This year marks the 88th edition of the competition, which dates back to the 1930s and is the oldest event of its kind in Saskatchewan. Weyburn leads the all-time series 46-41.
The games in both Estevan and Weyburn typically attract hundreds of spectators from both cities.
In other news, the U18 AAA Hockey Night in Estevan slated to happen on Feb. 5 will be going ahead at Affinity Place, at least as of 3 p.m.
The night will start with the Weyburn U18 AAA Gold Wings female hockey team facing the Notre Dame Hounds in a regular season game, starting at 5 p.m. It's believed to be the first-ever home game for the Wings in Estevan.
Then the Estevan Great North U18 AAA Bears will host the Notre Dame Hounds in a Saskatchewan Male AAA Hockey League game, starting at 8 p.m.
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The Saskatchewan RCMP advises the public that winter weather is impacting road conditions in southern Saskatchewan.
The following factors are impacting road conditions and/or visibility:
- Ice;
- Snow-covered lanes;
- Drifting and blowing snow; and
- Heavy snow
Before travelling, the RCMP asks the public to check the weather and road conditions along your route. If poor weather or road conditions exist or are forecasted, consider delaying travel if possible.
"If travel is necessary, stay on roads that have recently received road maintenance. Travellers can access information on road conditions and track which roads have been plowed, salted, and/or sanded within the last two hours at hotline.gov.sk.ca/map.
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Highway conditions vary in the southeast, ranging from partly covered with reduced visibility in the Estevan and Carlyle areas, to covered with reduced visibility around Weyburn. Travel is not recommended on some highways closer to the Trans-Canada, and on highways in the south-central region of the province.
SaskToday will continue to have updates as they become available.
