Saskatchewan Prairie Ice

Lore & Background

The Saskatchewan Prairie Ice began as an exhibition team in 2003–04, playing games throughout Saskatchewan. The following season, they joined the Calgary Oval X-Treme, Minnesota Whitecaps, Edmonton Chimos, and British Columbia Breakers in forming the Western Women's Hockey League for the 2004–2005 season. In 2006, the WWHL and the National Women's Hockey League (NWHL) attempted a merger, but the two leagues could not agree on a playoff schedule, and the merger was not completed. After the NWHL collapsed in the summer of 2007, the WWHL became fully independent again. The Prairie Ice suspended operations in summer 2007.

Reader's Guide

The Saskatchewan Prairie Ice were part of the early professionalization of women's ice hockey in western Canada. As a founding member of the WWHL, they competed alongside teams from Alberta, British Columbia, and Minnesota. The team's home in Lumsden, a small town, reflected the grassroots nature of the league. The Prairie Ice's history is tied to the instability of women's hockey leagues in the mid-2000s: the failed merger between the WWHL and NWHL in 2006, and the subsequent collapse of the NWHL in 2007, left the WWHL as an independent circuit. The team suspended operations that same summer, ending their four-season run. Their legacy includes being one of the few professional women's hockey teams based in Saskatchewan, and their notable former player Emily Henry represents the caliber of talent that passed through the organization.

Did You Know?

• The Saskatchewan Prairie Ice played exhibition games throughout Saskatchewan in 2003–04 before joining the WWHL.
• They were one of five founding teams of the Western Women's Hockey League in 2004–2005.
• The team suspended operations in summer 2007.
• Notable former player Emily Henry played for the Prairie Ice.