The southwest is set to be the centre of the hockey spotlight in the province this coming January.

The Trans-Canada Highway town of Gull Lake was awarded as host of Hockey Day in Saskatchewan yesterday. 

"Very excited - I know that the committee had been working hard on their submission, and I think the community is really pumped right now," said Gull Lake mayor Blake Campbell. "Everybody's pretty excited about being able to have the honour of hosting Hockey Day here in Gull Lake."

The event commonly hosts hockey games over all levels (SJHL, SMAAAHL, SFMAAAHL, and local minor hockey) during the event, as was the case in Balcarres this past winter.

The three-day event, set for January 18-20, 2019, will also be a showcase of the passion for hockey that Gull Lake has, as well as the hospitality of the community.

Below is the submission from the Gull Lake host committee, done by The Landing Studio in Swift Current.

"It's just a real honour - Gull Lake is a real hockey town. The video that was done by Landing Studio with the submission I think really captures the essence of Gull Lake and what hockey means to the community," Campbell said.

"Like, in the winter time it really is the social hub of the community. It's a gathering place, it's where families are, it's where we have gatherings - hockey in Gull Lake is just really, really big."

The event will also allow the town to show off the Gull Lake & Community Recreational Complex, one of the more upgraded small town Saskatchewan facilities.

More details on the event have yet to be released, but will be unveiled at the official event announcement and launch set for sometime this coming fall.

Just three weeks later Swift Current will act as host of the national edition, Hockey Day in Canada, on February 9, 2019, rounding out a stellar showing of hockey culture in the southwest.