Cougars to take on Combines in Big Six opener Nov. 3

            The Big Six Hockey League (www.bigsixhockey.com) is gearing up for another season and for the second year big changes have been set.

            The Arcola/Kisbey Combines are returning this season after a one-year hiatus last season – a long standing team of the Big Six they filed a leave-of-absence in 2016 due to lack of interest. The Combines will join the Bienfait Coalers, Carlyle PureChem Cougars, Carnduff Red Devils, Midale Mustangs, Oxbow Huskies, Redvers Rockets, Wawota Flyers, and the Yellow Grass Wheat Kings (the 2016-17 addition to the league).

            The Big Six annual meeting in Oxbow was hosted on Sunday, Oct. 1, which saw the dissolution of last year’s divisions. The nine teams will all play each other three times in order to balance the schedule; within this there will be at least one home and one away game between each home team and their opponent. In addition to this each home team will host an additional home game against four of the Big Six teams.

            Under the new format only the top eight teams in the standings will qualify for the post-season, leaving team number nine without a run at the Big Six title. While, the playoff structure has also been adjusted to a quarterfinal best of three games, semifinals best of five, and finals a best of seven.

            The quarterfinal match-ups will begin following the regular season with 1^st versus 8^th, 2^nd versus 7^th, 3^rd versus 6^th, and 4^th versus 5^th.

            Last year the Wawota Flyers defended their Big Six title and will be looking for a third winning season this year.

            In addition to the changes made, a potential rule change for the 2018-19 season was discussed regarding “Import Players” or players from outside the team’s community. Ideas moving forward will be discussed and brought to the table next year.

            The regular season is set to begin on Friday, Nov. 3, which will see the returning Combines visit Carlyle to take on the Cougars. The evening is already set for big things with free admission to the game and a guaranteed 50/50 of $5,000. The Cougars will be donating their proceeds from the game’s 50/50 to KidSport (www.kidsportcanada.ca).

            A full schedule will be released soon.