Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League The Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League is a Junior A ice hockey league under Hockey Canada , a part of the Canadian Junior Hockey League . Open to North America n - born players 20 years of age or younger , the SJHL ' s 12 teams play in three divisions : the Itech , Kramer , and Sherwood divisions . A major attraction in small - town Saskatchewan , the SJHL draw 400 , 000 fans each season - - nearly half the population of the province . Until 2012 , he winner of the SJHL playoffs continues on to play in the Anavet Cup in a best - of - 7 series against the champion of the Manitoba Junior Hockey League . The winner of the Anavet Cup will compete in the Junior " A " National Championship for the Royal Bank Cup . This format was replaced in 2013 with the Western Canada Cup replacing the Anavet and the Doyle Cup s ( the combined championship for British Columbia and Alberta ) . Under the new format the runner - up at the Western Canada Cup also qualifies for the Royal Bank Cup . The league ' s history dates back to 1917 , the first year of junior hockey in the province . Some version of the league played in every season since then . Until 1971 the league ' s champion competed for the Memorial Cup . The league has had several times where the league was reorganized and played in different leagues as a result of larger , regional leagues being formed . Among them are the Soo Line League ( 1948 - 1949 ) and the North Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League ( 1948 - 1950 ) , which was became the SJHL . Both of these leagues were formed as a result of the fall out from the formation of the Western Canada Junior Hockey League , which itself lasted until 1956 . The 1950 incarnation of the league lasted until 1966 , when most of the teams joined the Canadian Major Junior Hockey League , which eventually became the present day Western Hockey League . The other remaining teams joined the Manitoba Junior Hockey League . The present league was established when three teams ( the Moose Jaw Canucks , Regina Pats , and the Weyburn Wings ) left the CMJHL to re - establish the SJHL along with a new franchise in Saskatoon . Due to its ' location on the Manitoba - Saskatchewan border the Flin Flon Bombers joined the league in 1984 . Until formal approval was given by the provincial and national governing bodies the team was temporarily named the Creighton Bombers . The league has been very stable in terms of membership as the league has not had a franchise move or fold since 2001 . The league has also not added any expansion teams since 1998 . Through the league ' s history since 1966 , the main reason for losing teams has been the presence of a Western Hockey League franchise in a city , which has happened in Moose Jaw , Prince Albert , Regina , Saskatoon , and Swift Current . Regional Championships . Anavet Cup . From 1971 to 2012 , the Anavet Cup was held between the provincial champions of Manitoba and Saskatchewan . From 1971 to 1989 the winner would advance to the Abbott Cup for the Western Canada championship and a berth in the Manitoba Centennial Cup for the National Junior " A " Championship . Starting in 1990 the Anavet Cup winner would advance to the re - named Royal Bank Cup . The Anavet Cup and the Doyle Cup ( BC / AB championship ) was replaced by the Western Canada Cup in 2013 Western Canada Championships . Abbott Cup . Until 1970 the Abbott Cup was held as the Western Canadian championship and a spot in the Memorial Cup . After 1970 the league was moved to the Junior " A " level and would compete for the Manitoba Centennial Cup until that was replaced in 1989 with the Royal Bank Cup . From 1990 to 1999 the winner of the round robin game between the Anavet and Doyle Cup winners would be awarded the Abbott Cup . The Abbott Cup was retired in 1999 . Neither of the SJHL ' s Abbott Cup champions won the Memorial Cup as both were defeated by the Montreal Junior Canadiens in the final series 4 games to none . Western Canada Cup . The WCC was created as a replacement for the seperate Anavet and Doyle Cups for the two Western Canada berths in the Royal Bank Cup .