Dave Leaderhouse
Special to the Herald
For those who say there is nothing to do in Prince Albert then last weekend should have silenced you. A look at what this next week brings is even more exhausting.
Last Friday was simply overwhelming. The Prince Albert Raiders held their season-opener against the Regina Pats at the Art Hauser Centre and at the same time the Carlton Crusaders welcomed the Bishop James Mahoney Saints to Max Clunie Field. Also running concurrently to these two events were the Carlton senior girl’s volleyball tournament at Carlton Comprehensive High School and just for good measure there was a high school soccer game going on at the main pitch at Prime Ministers’ Park.
All of this was within about a two-square-block area leaving parking at a premium as all four events had a significant amount of supporters in the area.
This weekend is even busier!
The Raiders are once again at home on Friday when they will welcome the Saskatoon Blades, but all three of the other high-end teams in the city are playing at home on Saturday with two of them being home openers.
The Prince Albert Timberjaks open the home portion of their Prairie Junior Hockey League schedule on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. at the Northern Regional Recreation Centre with the Saskatoon Royals providing the opposition. The Timberjaks had a strong pre-season winning both of their exhibition contests and they will already have one regular-season tilt under their belt when the puck drops on Saturday as they were in Saskatoon on Wednesday to face the Royals in their season opener.
The Prince Albert Raider Northern Bears christen their new digs on Saturday when they will welcome the Weyburn Gold Wings to the Lake Country Co-op Leisure Centre at 7 p.m. The game, which will open their 2026-27 Saskatchewan Female U18 AAA Hockey League schedule, will be the club’s first at this location after nearly 20 years of playing home games at the Art Hauser Centre. The Bears and Gold Wings will also clash on Sunday at 1 p.m. to complete the weekend doubleheader.
To complete the hectic schedule, the Prince Albert Mintos will be back on home ice on Saturday at 7 p.m. at the Art Hauser Centre with the Notre Dame Hounds providing the opposition. The Mintos, like the Timberjaks, will already have played one game by this time as they began their Saskatchewan Male U18 AAA Hockey League season on Wednesday when they had their home opener against the Battlefords Stars. Prince Albert and Notre Dame complete a doubleheader on Sunday at 1:30 p.m. at the Art Hauser Centre.
If hockey doesn’t tickle your fancy then there is another high school football game on Friday as the Carlton Crusaders host the Vikings from North Battleford in their North Sask. Football League opener. Kick-off for that contest is 6:30 p.m. at Max Clunie Field.
And, for the third straight weekend there will be high school volleyball action going on Friday and Saturday. This time it is the St. Mary Marauders hosting their annual senior girl’s invitational with action beginning at 1 p.m. on Friday. Medal games will wind up the event on Saturday beginning at 6:30 p.m.
This is just the slate of events that have been announced for sporting activities. There is undoubtedly plenty more going on at numerous other venues so saying there is nothing to do is certainly unwarranted and unnecessary.
Dave Leaderhouse is a freelance reporter and fan of amateur athletics
