With the blessing and approval from the Humboldt Broncos, the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL), along with a representative from each SJHL hockey team, which forms the league's Board of Governors, unanimously agreed to continue this season following the tragic bus accident on April 6th.

“We had a gruelling decision to make with respects on how we can pay tribute and honour the Humboldt Broncos”. says Bill Chow, SJHL President. “On behalf of the Board of Governors, this intensive decision has been made and that decision is to carry through and finish off the 2017-2018 season."

"The league will play hockey.”

A quick statement from the board of Humboldt Broncos read: “The power of healing is in the game.”

Mark Schneider is on the board of governors, representing the Weyburn Red Wings.

“We stopped, and listened to all their thoughts, and they were suggesting it would be best for everyone to keep moving on in hockey, and that was kind of Humboldt’s wishes,” Schneider said.

The Canalta Cup Final between the Nipawin Hawks and Estevan Bruins will begin on Saturday, April 14th with Game 1 from the Centennial Arena.

In a separate press conference by the Estevan Bruins on Thursday, President Cory Prokop explained more details behind the discussion by the SJHL Board of Governors.

"The Broncos expressed that the would like to see the final series go on, they want to see the Saskatchewan representative move on to the Anavet Cup...win that...and move on to the Royal Bank Cup and represent the province nationally," stated Prokop from Affinity Place in Estevan.

Prokop added that the Humboldt Broncos said they would support any decision the league would make in regards to starting the final, with the condition that it starts no earlier than Friday, April 13th.

"So we as a group agreed to a start date of this Saturday," added Prokop. "There's no good day to start, obviously there are funeral services this weekend and more moving forward so it would be really hard to avoid all of them."

"So the league felt the best way to proceed was to start Saturday, and it would still leave three or four days before the Anavet Cup would start if the final went to Game 7."

Sold out crowds are expected for all games in the final, with the Centennial Arena in Nipawin having a seating capacity of approximately 1,500 and Affinity Place in Estevan having a seating capacity of approximately 2,600.