2026 SJHL Draft Show Presented by UPL

REGINA, Sask. — The Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League will hold its 2026 SJHL Draft at 1 p.m. Saskatchewan Time today, with the event streamed live on SJHL.ca, the league’s YouTube channel, Facebook and X. The draft marks the 11th in league history and will be conducted from IKS Media’s Regina studio.

This year’s draft format includes two rounds of selections for 2011-born players, followed by six rounds for 2010-born players. Eligible players must be Saskatchewan residents, must not have been drafted previously, and must not be among the players automatically protected by an SJHL member club.

SJHL Commissioner Kyle McIntyre said the draft remains a key part of the league’s identity and its effort to keep more Saskatchewan players developing close to home. The league’s “stay here, play here” program is intended to create more opportunities for young players in the province so that families and communities can follow their progress without having to travel far.

The draft rules were updated after Warman joined the league ahead of the 2025-26 season. Under the current system, each team may auto-protect up to two U15 players per birth year. A club can protect a third player only if it gives up a first-round U15 draft pick.

For this year’s draft, the auto-protection rules have also been expanded to include players who live just outside an SJHL community on acreages or farms within the team’s trading area. To qualify, those players must have spent most of their school years registered in that community’s school and most of their minor hockey experience in that community’s minor hockey system. If eligible, they count as one of the team’s auto-protected players.

Teams were required to submit the names of their auto-protected players to the league by May 26. Players who are not protected can be selected freely within their proper age group during the draft.

McIntyre said the SJHL remains focused on being a Saskatchewan league for Saskatchewan players, emphasizing local development and keeping young athletes in the province. The draft is part of the league’s broader effort to strengthen connections between players, families and local hockey communities across Saskatchewan.