Commitment.

You have to have it from players, coaches & executive.

If you don’t have the drive and passion from people to fill those three important roles then any team, no matter what sport, will struggle to survive.

Unfortunately the Carillon Senior Hockey League knows this all too well.

What could have been an eight-team league in 2017-2018 wound up being just five.

The Steinbach Huskies, La Broquerie Habs and Springfield 98’s all asked for a leave of abscence leaving the Grunthal Red Wings, Red River Wild, St. Malo Warriors, Lac du Bonnet Blues and defending champion Ste. Anne Aces to battle it out this season.

Instead of putting on a Huskies jersey this winter, Tanner Harms, Kyle Isenor and Brett Adnum have called Ste. Anne home this hockey season.

“It’s been really good,” said Harms who has 13 goals and 11 assists in 14 games this season with the Aces who share first place with the Red Wings. “I knew a lot of the guys before I came in. They’re all great guys so it’s been good so far.”

Ste. Anne has won back-to-back CSHL championships and have flourished with Kevin Lansard behind the bench.

“I didn’t really know him before but he’s very passionate about senior hockey,” Harms said. “That’s definitely what senior hockey needs.”

The Huskies, who joined the Carillon Senior Hockey League in the fall of 2004, were eliminated by Grunthal in the opening round of the playoffs last February.

“At the end of last season I know we were kind of struggling for guys,” said Harms. “I was kind of wondering if we would have a team or not. Into the summer, not too many new people had come into the picture so I was definitely worried but I thought we still might have a team. Getting that call was a bit of a shock because as long as I’ve been around – there’s not been a senior team in Steinbach. It’s a little disappointing but I guess that’s the way it goes.”

Harms though is optimistic the Huskies can return this fall.

“I think there’s definitely guys to play senior hockey in Steinbach. I don’t think that’s the problem. It’s just getting them all to commit and to want to play senior hockey. I don’t think the problem is the number, I think it’s just getting everyone to play. There are some coaches who have committed their time and are willing to do that again. It’s just getting everyone all together.”

“Senior hockey in general has taken a little bit of a back seat in recent years but there’s still a lot of guys that want to play and want to compete,” added Harms. “It would be great if we could keep it going for years to come.”

How about a 16-team Carillon Senior Hockey League that might look like this someday.

Hanover Division: Steinbach Huskies, Mitchell Mohawks, La Broquerie Habs, Grunthal Red Wings, Red River Wild, Landmark Dutchmen, St. Malo Warriors & St. Pierre Canadiens.

Tache Division: Ste. Anne Aces, Springfield 98’s, Ile des Chenes North Stars, St. Adolphe Hawks, Lorette Comets, Lac du Bonnet Blues, Niverville Clippers and Beausejour Beavers.

Will it ever happen?

Of course not but it sure would be entertaining for hockey fans in each community if it ever did.


photo courtesy Shannon Normandeau