Nikki Stewart joined a university hockey team straight out of high school. In retrospect, she believes she could have benefited from a year of junior hockey first — something more female hockey players in Saskatchewan could soon have a chance to do.

When Stewart was in high school, the Saskatchewan Junior Female Hockey League did not exist. It was started two years ago.

Now an assistant coach in the under-22 SJFHL, Stewart sees the league as an opportunity for younger players to develop their ski…