After two weeks off, the Big Six Hockey League resumes this weekend as all eight teams get ready for what will be a busy month of senior hockey in the southeast.
A flurry of games will be played in January, the final month of the regular season. While all eight teams will make the playoffs, finishing near the top of the standings and earning home-ice advantage will be the focus over the final 8-9 games of the schedule.
When playoffs do begin, they will look quite a bit different than in years' past. With the new two-division setup, the first round will see a "crossover" followed by the usual "highest vs. lowest seed" in the semi-finals.
PLAYOFFS - FIRST ROUND CROSSOVER
All eight teams will qualify for the playoffs. However, the first round will see the two divisions crossover in the first round.
1st East vs. 4th West
2nd East vs. 3rd West
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1st West vs. 4th East
2nd West vs. 3rd East
After the first round, the four remaining teams will be re-seeded based on overall points during the regular season similar to previous seasons.
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There are seven games this weekend, including four on Saturday where all eight teams will be on the ice for the first time this year.
As well, there will be two broadcasts on CJ1150. A total of 13 games will be broadcast in January.
CLICK HERE FOR THE BIG SIX BROADCAST SCHEDULE
FRIDAY
Yellow Grass @ Redvers - 8:00 - CJ1150 BROADCAST
Carnduff @ Wawota - 8:00
Carlyle @ Midale - 8:00
SATURDAY
Midale @ Wawota - 8:00 - CJ1150 BROADCAST
Redvers @ Bienfait - 7:00
Oxbow @ Yellow Grass - 8:00
Carlyle @ Carnduff - 8:00
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STANDINGS AS OF JANUARY 5TH
East Division
1st - Carnduff - (8-3-1) 17 points
2nd - Redvers - (8-3-0) 16 points
3rd - Wawota - (6-4-1) 13 points
4th - Oxbow - (4-7-0) 8 points
West Division
1st - Bienfait - (8-2-1) 17 points
2nd - Yellow Grass - (6-3-3) 15 points
3rd - Midale - (3-7-1) 7 points
4th - Carlyle - (2-9-0) 4 points