A big change coming at the top of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League.

In a release posted to the league website Monday evening, Bill Chow announced his resignation as commissioner of the league effective May 31st of this year. His contract was originally set to expire in May of 2023.

“I will continue to fulfil my duties as the Commissioner of the SJHL as I have for the past 10 plus years,” Chow said in a written statement. “There have been many factors that have gone into my final decision.”

Chow originally stepped into the role of the commissioner in May of 2011. Since taking on the position, he has seen the creation of the Western Canada Cup from 2013 to 2017, with the champion teams from the four western Canadian Junior A leagues competing for two berths in the national championship.

He was instrumental, along with the commissioner of the MJHL at the time, in the start of the SJHL/MJHL Showcase event, which was first held in Regina in January 2018.

His tenure also saw the league deal with some of the darkest times in league history, including the Humboldt Broncos tragedy in April of 2018, and the decision to cancel the playoffs at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.

Chow indicated he is giving the notice now to allow for a four-month period for the Board of Governors to conduct a thorough hiring process.