The 2018-2019 Hanover Tache Junior Hockey League season begins this weekend.

"We're happy that the hockey season is back," said HTJHL president Ray Laing. "We've had a couple of successful meetings and teams seem genuinely excited to get the season underway."

The Steinbach Huskies, St. Adolphe Hawks, Lorette Comets, Springfield Xtreme, Mitchell Mohawks and defending champion Red River Mudbugs are back and the Grunthal Red Wings are returning to the ice after taking a one-year leave of absence.

"We're very happy that there's an organization in Grunthal that has picked up that team and decided to run with it," said Laing. "They seen to have a good core of players and we're looking forward to them being back in the league. They've been very successful in the past so it's good to have them back. Seven is a good number. Somebody has to sit in round one of the playoffs but as you get a few more numbers the teams don't have to play each other quite as often. More variety is great."

Speaking of variety.

Five different teams have won the league championship over the course of the last five seasons.

They include the Mudbugs, Xtreme, Comets, Red Wings and Huskies.

"You have to give the teams credit," Laing said. "The management and coaching staff put in an awful lot of work - way more than anyone ever suspects they do. They put in a lot of work to keep these teams going. When the league is competitive from top to bottom and standings aren't decided until the last week of the season, that's just great."

The puck drops on the HTJHL's 32nd season Friday night when Red River travels to Steinbach and St. Adolphe visits Grunthal.

Springfield will meet Lorette Saturday in Oakbank.