The Shellbrook Elks are one of four teams from the Twin Rivers Hockey League (TRHL) to be named to senior hockey provincials this season. Here, the team is celebrating a win over Rosthern on Jan. 3, 2026. (Shellbrook Elks Senior Hockey Club/Facebook)

By Logan Lehmann

Senior Hockey

Four TRHL teams named to senior provincials in same bracket

Jan 14, 2026 | 1:23 PM

Nearly a handful of teams in the Twin Rivers Hockey League (TRHL) were named to senior provincials this season, all within the same bracket.

The clubs will be playing in the heavily contested Provincial ‘D’ bracket, a tournament that features a whopping 26 teams with the Shellbrook Elks, Hague Royals, Birch Hills Blackhawks and Allan Flames representing the league in the ‘North’ side of the bracket.

According to HockeySask, Shellbrook is the most recent team from the TRHL to win a provincial championship, doing so in 2012 when they won the Senior ‘A’ title. Birch Hills and Hague also have provincial wins under their belts, both winning the Senior ‘C’ championship with the Blackhawks last winning in 1993 and the Royals in 1983. Meanwhile, Allan has yet to raise a provincial banner.

Each of the four TRHL clubs are within five points of each other in league standings. The reigning league champions Allan lead the quartet, sitting in third behind Dalmeny and Rosthern with an 8-4-1 (W-L-OTL) record. Following just one point behind in fifth is Shellbrook at 8-5-0, Hague is eighth at 6-5-1 and Birch Hills is ninth at 6-7-0.

How the Twin Rivers Hockey League stands as teams have five or less games to play in the regular season. (Twin Rivers Hockey League)

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Shellbrook is set to lineup with the Blaine Lake Raiders in their round one playoff series, the first time that Blaine Lake has had a provincial team in over 30 years. Currently, the Raiders are among the top teams in the province and are one of the only undefeated senior teams left, as they lead the Sask. Prairie Hockey League (SPHL) with a 10-0-0 record.

At the same time, Hague will be facing the Kelvington Wheat Kings of the Wheatland Senior Hockey League (WSHL). This season is just the second for Kelvington playing back in the WSHL, as they were revived following their hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The last time the Wheaties raised a banner was in 2012 when they won the, now defunct, Fishing Lake Hockey League (FSHL).

The third and final round one matchup is set between Birch Hills and the Hudson Bay Hunters, also playing in the WSHL. Like Kelvington, Hudson Bay has only been a member of the WSHL for less than a handful of seasons, joining from the Sask. East Hockey League in 2022. Coincidentally, the Hunters also won their last title in the FSHL in 2013.

Meanwhile, Allan is one of six teams to get a bye into the second round of the senior ‘D’ playoffs with their matchup conveniently set. The Flames will line up against the Ituna Avalanche of the Prairie Men’s Hockey League (PMHL). According to their Elite Prospects page, the Avalanche have only been around since the 2020 season and have been a member of the PMHL since its inception in 2024. Predictably, the Avs have yet to win a championship of any kind but came close last season, falling in the league finals to Cupar.

Round one matchups will begin later this month, as those series need to be finished by Feb. 2.

The Senior ‘D’ provincial bracket. (HockeySask via Monday Nooner/X)

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loganc.lehmann@pattisonmedia.com