‘Heartbreaking’: Willow Cree Chiefs application to rejoin TRHL rejected for second time

“Is it racism or what? I just don’t know,” he continued. “We’re going to probably to talk to some legal counseling and see where we go from here because it wasn’t fair and we weren’t treated right.”

The Chiefs had been members of the TRHL for three seasons from 2022-2025, after the franchise relocated from Warman. The relocation was conditional, as the league allowed the team to move to the reserve with the provision that when the management at the time stepped down, the club would have to re-apply to the league as an expansion team under the new management.

The old management stepped down following the 2024/25 season, and Willow Cree submitted an application with new management like the conditions stated. However, during the TRHL’s annual general meeting (AGM) in April 2025, board members and the other clubs voted against Willow Cree’s bid to be reinstated. The vote was not unanimous.

Then, earlier this week at the 2026 AGM, the team re-submitted an application to rejoin where it was rejected again only this time, they were not invited to the meeting while league members voted to accept another team’s application.

“We were told that what we needed was to get new management in place in order for the team to get reinstated, and that’s exactly what we did,” explained Seesequasis, calling it a slap in the face.

“We did all the paperwork, and we sent in a letter applying as a new team to get re-instated because that’s what they wanted was new management and that’s exactly what we did – what we were asked to do and then we get denied again. We weren’t even aware that they had a meeting.”

He continued that the club is now looking at playing in the Sask. Prairie Hockey League (SPHL), where travel times would exceed three hours for some away games.

“I was talking to my son about it and he said no, that’s too far. And then a lot of the working players would never be able to make it anyway because of the travel time. It’s very frustrating for the boys because they were looking forward to wanting to play again, and we thought for sure that we were going to get back in.”

paNOW contacted Twin Rivers Hockey League management but they declined to comment at this time.

As of now, Willow Cree has nowhere to play for the 2026/27 season, but Seesequasis is determined that Chiefs hockey will return.

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loganc.lehmann@pattisonmedia.com

by Logan Lehmann

‘Heartbreaking’: Willow Cree Chiefs application to rejoin TRHL rejected for second time

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