SPORTS

Premier Ball Hockey League Looks to Become a Professional League in Upcoming Years

Shanine Sealey, Martensville Messenger

The Saskatchewan Premier Ball Hockey League had its inaugural season in 2021 and is currently planning for their third season of action. According to founder and CEO Justin D’Entremont, “The Premier League is a league that uses a pro-style with aspirations of one day turning into an actual professional league where players make a salary playing ball hockey.”

The league has four teams competing within it; however, D’Entremont states that there is plenty of room for growth. “Once we accumulate an influx of high-calibre players, we will expand to probably two more teams,” D’Entremont explained.

Each team consists of approximately 20 players and play six regular season games before the playoffs. “Our games are played over a few “gamedays” and weeknights. A gameday is on a Saturday where each team travels to the same location at the same time and everyone plays two games, for a total of four Premier League games all played consecutively. We have two Saturday gamedays and two Wednesday night gamedays this season,” D’Entremont added.

To participate in the Saskatchewan Premier Ball Hockey League, players can register in hopes of being drafted by one of the four teams. Registration is currently open for any players wanting to sign up and be added to the draft list at https://www. premierleagueballhockey.com/. The player draft will take place in April, and there will be several drop-in games leading up to the draft for new players to come out and show off their skills in front of team General Managers.

To play, all that is required is a helmet, gloves, runners and a stick; and D’Entremont explained that shin pads are highly recommended for competitive levels of play, but are not mandatory. Players are not required to have experience, but since it is a competitive draft league, D’Entremont said that there are drop-in games held as an opportunity for new players to come out and give it a go. The next drop-in game night will be held on Tuesday, February 14th at 7pm in the Lawson Heights Soccer Centre.

Currently, the only thing separating the Saskatchewan Premier Ball Hockey League from being a professional league is that fact that players don’t get paid; however, D’Entremont hopes to change that by finding major sponsorship, finding investors, or by reaching high levels of league success and once that happens, players will be paid and they will become a professional league.

“We are always looking to grow the sport of ball hockey and always looking to improve the Premier League. Sponsors, marketing and business expertise are always welcome and will become necessary for us to take this league to the next level. If anyone wants to get involved in any capacity, don’t hesitate to reach out to us on social media,” D’Entremont stated.

Better Understanding of First Nations Issues Needed

As a government that started out by trying to bridge the divide between First Nations and nonFirst Nations in this province, the Saskatchewan Party government has recently run into problems. When it comes to that gap, the problems have always been education and understanding; the lack of the latter being directly contributing to the lack of the former.

Most of us of my vintage growing up in Canada learned very little about First Nations history; or at least, First Nations history that wasn’t taught from the immigrant perspective. We learned about Northwest and Hudson Bay Companies taming the wilderness and the bravery of the coureur de bois and Jesuits in the face of hostile Indian tribes. Treaties? Residential Schools? Well, these were issues for First Nations people who now probably have developed a deeper understanding of our true history than perhaps non-First Nations ever did. To its credit, the Sask. Party government under then-premier Brad Wall set out to change all this.

It began prioritizing the understanding of treaties in schools. As Wall used to say: “I was taught more about Treaty of Versailles that I was about Treaty Six that gives us right to our property and land.”

During Premier Scott Moe’s tenure in the past five years, there is sense things have been moving backwards. Some of it has to do with circumstances. Immediately after Moe became premier in January 2018, we saw the Gerald Stanley not guilty verdict in the killing of Colten Boushie that clearly heightened racial tensions in the province, but while Moe and his Sask. Party government likely don’t get credit for the good that they have done, other things they have done haven’t exactly fostered education and understanding.

One of such short-comings is the strange unwillingness to simply acknowledge First Nation grievances when asked to do so. Even things as simple as meeting with teepee protestors on the lawns of the legislature raising concerns about the treatment of children and high First Nations suicide rates has heightened the perception that the Premier and his government cannot be bothered with these historical grievances. That may not be the case, but it is perception catching up with this government.

Recently, a group of First Nations people gathered in the NDP Opposition conference room to express their frustration over the government not following the duty to consult process on the sale and lease of Crown land near reserves.

First Nations raised concern that the Ministry of Agriculture was circumventing the duty to consult process. By doing so, they were putting in jeopardy lands First Nations say they have used for traditional purposes including ceremonial ones.

Further complicating matters is the fact that some of the land in question is land thought to be set aside for Treaty Land Entitlement purchases.

“That’s why Ochapowace has taken Saskatchewan to court as part of the claim based on our shortfall acres that we have yet to purchase,” said Ochapowace headwoman, Shelley Bear.

Perhaps even more consequential, however, is concerns raised by Ochapowace Chief Margaret Bear over last fall’s Saskatchewan First Act that she and others say was introduced with little consultation or acknowledgement that there are major First Nations issues in play including rights to lands and resources.

Many will argue there is politics in play here. There always is, but there was surely politics in play with the Saskatchewan First Act in the first place. And even a little understanding or mention that there are issues affecting First Nations would have been a helpful start.

The Sask. Party government didn’t do that, again sending a message that it didn’t really have to consult. This defies the spirit of the treaties that supersedes the province.

Perhaps government needs to better demonstrate education and understanding of the treaties.

Saskatchewan and Manitoba Residents’ Debt Concerns Spike, as High Interest Rates, Inflation and Affordability Struggles Persist, MNP Consumer Debt Index Finds

Saskatchewan and Manitoba residents’ anxiety about their debt situation is building, amid rising interest rates, persistent inflation, and heightened affordability concerns. The latest quarterly MNP Consumer Debt Index finds more than half of Saskatchewan and Manitoba residents (57%) say they regret the amount of debt they’ve taken on in life, increasing a record 19 points from the previous quarter and reaching a record high. Additionally, half (50%) say they are concerned about their current level of debt, jumping a significant nine points.

The MNP Consumer Debt Index is conducted quarterly by Ipsos to track Canadians’ attitudes about their debt situation and their ability to meet their monthly payment obligations. It has taken a drastic plunge to 77 points, down 15 points from the last quarter and marking an all-time low since the Index was created over five years ago.

“This massive spike in Saskatchewan and Manitoba residents’ attitudes towards their personal debt situation is a reflection of this past year’s persistent inflation and swift interest rate hikes,” says Pamela Meger, a Licensed Insolvency Trustee with MNP LTD in Regina. “Many households are experiencing a double whammy. On one side, inflation is eroding their household budget, and on the other side, those who are financially vulnerable and overleveraged are being faced with soaring borrowing costs.”

After last year’s rapidly rising interest rates, Saskatchewan and Manitoba residents are feeling significantly worse about their ability to absorb interest rate increases. Compared to the other provinces, Saskatchewan and Manitoba residents are the most likely (74%) to say they are already feeling the effects of interest rate increases, making a massive 15-point jump since last quarter. Seven in ten say that as interest rates rise they are more concerned about their ability to pay their debts (72%, +12pts), and three in five say if interest rates go up much more, they will be in financial trouble (61%, +14pts), both rising sharply from the previous quarter. One in four says their ability to absorb an interest rate increase of one percentage point has worsened (26%, +3pts).

Rising costs are being felt by Saskatchewan and Manitoba residents more than the rest of the provinces. They are the most likely to report that feeding themselves and their family (65%, +13pts), putting money aside for savings (64%, +17pts), and transportation (66%, +26pts) are less affordable. A growing proportion also says clothing or other household necessities (51%, +12pts) and housing (40%, +9pts) are becoming less affordable. Across the board, Saskatchewan and Manitoba saw the largest quarterly increases compared to any other province.

“An increase to a household’s expenses and debt carrying costs could be difficult for them to accommodate if they are already spending nearly all their paycheque each month and have very little wiggle room. Those households are struggling to sustain their standard of living, and often they resort to taking on more debt as a result,” explains Meger.

More Saskatchewan and Manitoba residents are likely already resorting to taking on more debt to make ends meet. Compared to December 2021, significantly more say they have paid only the minimum balance on their credit card (34%), jumping 10 points, the largest increase amongst the provinces. Saskatchewan and Manitoba residents are also the most likely to say they paid the minimum balance on their line of credit (23%, +9pts), or say they will use their savings to pay their bills (26%, +7pts). More now say they will borrow from friends or family (13%, +6pts) or have borrowed money they can’t afford to pay back quickly (21%, +1pt). One in 10 say they will use their credit card to pay their bills (12%, -4pts). Two in five say they plan on reducing their consumer expenses to make ends meet (39%), increasing four points since last quarter.

“More Saskatchewan and Manitoba residents are being pushed to make difficult financial decisions to try to keep up. Amassing more debt can have lasting financial impacts, though, and can push some into a debt spiral. Financial struggles like these can often bring on stress and anxiety which can significantly affect a person’s mental health,” says Meger.

Although down slightly since last quarter, nearly half (45%, -3pts) of Saskatchewan and Manitoba residents report that they are $200 away or less from not being able to meet all of their financial obligations, including three in ten (28%, -6pts) who say they already don’t make enough to cover their bills and debt obligations. Only half are confident in their ability to cover all of their living/family expenses in the next year without going further into debt (51%, -1pt).

“There are financial red flags that Saskatchewan residents should be mindful of as the holiday bills are arriving this month. They may signal that professional debt advice is needed,” says Meger. “The best course of action is to seek help from a debt professional like a Licensed Insolvency Trustee if you experience any red flags such as being unable to cover your bills or anticipate missed payments, or you plan to use other forms of credit to pay your bills.”

Debt-relief options can include striking a deal with creditors through an informal debt settlement, consolidating all debts into one monthly payment, making a debt repayment plan through a consumer proposal, or declaring bankruptcy.

Meger explains that individuals often miss the initial warning signs or feel shameful about seeking help, causing the debt to snowball, and in some cases leaving the individual with fewer options.

“A good place to start is with a free, confidential review of your finances by a Licensed Insolvency Trustee who will outline in detail all of the debt-relief options available to you. Each individual’s debt situation is different, so this review will help to determine the best option for that unique situation,” advises Meger

As the only federally-regulated debt professionals, Licensed Insolvency Trustees provide unbiased and customized financial assessments. MNP offers free consultations across Canada.

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