‘Emotional and bittersweet’: Notre Dame Hounds play final SJHL game in Wilcox

Notre Dame Hounds play final SJHL game. They'll relocate to Warman next season. Fans and alumni gathered Sunday one last time.

The Notre Dame Hounds played their final junior hockey game on Sunday evening in Wilcox after nearly 40 seasons. The Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL) franchise is set to become the Warman Wolverines starting next season, marking the end of an era for the Hounds.

“Emotional and bittersweet, I think are the words that describe it,” Dave Haranzy, director of development & alumni relations at Athol Murray College of Notre Dame said. “We’re kind of sad to see the team go, but we know that there’s a great future for them and their new location in Warman and so we just want to make the best of the of the day today and help celebrate the Hounds in this final game.”

In addition to a special video presentation prior to the puck drop, the Notre Dame Museum & Archives shared their collection of Hounds history with the public, alumni, fans and family. Anyone else was welcome to stop by and look through the many pictures, uniforms, trophies and other items collected over the years.

“We’ve got lots of visitors to the campus today [Sunday] to take in this last game. It’s an end of an era. But we wanted to celebrate, all the memories that we have of past teams and past players. And so at the archives here, we put together a little display to honor the Junior Hounds teams of the past.” Haranzy said.

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Many alumni of all ages came to Wilcox for the final game. It was an opportunity to reminisce and celebrate the organization’s history.

“It means a lot. I mean, we have so many alumni across the province, across the whole world, so they’ve all been paying attention and sending their warmest wishes...it’s just great to see, you know, all the support that we have across the entire world for this team.” Haranzy said.

The Hounds ended up falling 4-2 to the league leading Melfort Mustangs, who finish the regular season 46-8-0-2, one of the best records in the entire CJHL. The Hounds, who will miss the playoffs, finished their final season in Wilcox 12-40-2-2.