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Pucks on the Prairie

This Saskatchewan Prarie Hockey League brawl was the cherry on top of a wild sports weekend

January 10, 2022

There was no shortage of big-time sport storylines this weekend. NFL playoff spots were up for grabs (and in the case of the Colts and Chargers, drops). The national championship clock ticked closer to kickoff. Klay Thompson made his triumphant return and a mulleted Aussie welcomed professional golf back to our TV screens. All good stuff to be sure, but when the dust settled and the stitches were stitched, it was the Saskatchewan Prairie Hockey League that emerged from the weekend scrum toothless and grinning.

That, folks, is a proper Donnybrook, the likes of which you just don’t see south of the border or this side of the decade. Details are scant, but perhaps that’s for the best. It’s the Battleford Beaver Blues vs. the Turtleford Tigers. Who started it? Why? Are there even suspensions to in the SPHL? Don’t know, don’t care. This is Saturday night hockey in Saskatchewan, and that’s all you need to know.

You may not like it. You may not agree with it. But just look at that crowd go wild. Look at these boys laying it all on the line for their teammates. There’s no money in it for them. No glory. Just black eyes, bruised knuckles, and pride. If that isn’t what hockey is all about, we don’t know what is.