CARLYLE - The Carlyle Cougars Senior Hockey Club has announced they will be taking a run at the Hockey Saskatchewan senior A provincial title this year, and they have added some top-notch talent.
The A category is the highest level of senior hockey in the province and there are no requirements for residency, population or imported players. The teams entered in this category have the ability to add players from anywhere. Athletes from outside the province can roster with a release and transfer to Hockey Saskatchewan.
“We knew teams were loading up. The winner of this division is not only the provincial champion but is crowned the best senior team in the province,” the Cougars said in a news release.
“Our league team is strong, but A is an entirely different level. We have seen the rosters and many of them have players that played in the NHL. Lots of pros on these teams. Carlyle has seen some high-level hockey in the past, but I don’t believe it will have seen this level of play ever.
"We are excited for the community. Last year's run really brought the town together, the building was packed every night and the place was buzzing.”
The Cougars entered the Senior B category in 2023 and lost in the final to the Wadena Wildcats.
This year, 21 teams from all over the province have entered into the A division.
Forward Scott Glennie is perhaps the biggest name. He was selected in the first round, eighth overall, by the Dallas Stars in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft and played two games in the NHL. He played his junior hockey with the Brandon Wheat Kings of the Western Hockey League, notching 308 points in 252 games.
“Scott is extremely excited to come to Carlyle and help us be successful. Our fans are in for a real treat. We are excited to have a player of this caliber in a Cougars uniform," the club said.
Several former members of the Estevan Bruins are also on board. Forward Tanner Froese has joined the Cougars after playing in five professional seasons in the U.S. The right winger split time between the ECHL and the Southern Professional Hockey League and put up 86 points in 172 pro games. He also captained St. Norbert College of the NCAA to a national Division 3 title. Froese has also been added to the Cougars' league roster.
Defenceman Alex Von Sprecken and forward Cody Davis were members of the Bruins' squad that won the 2022 SJHL championship and are now playing for the Oxbow Huskies in the Big Six Hockey League.
Another former Bruin is defenceman Tyler Spencer, who is now in the Big Six with the Midale Mustangs.
Forward Dylan Kelly spent four years in the Manitoba Junior Hockey League and another four years with the University of Manitoba.
Carter Struthers, a 6'5" defenceman, returns to the Cougars, as he played 10 games with the team in the 19-20 season, putting up 21 points. Struthers played 46 professional games between the ECHL and the SPHL. He played junior hockey with the Weyburn Red Wings and NCAA Division 1 hockey with Bemidji State University.
