Shaping Saskatchewan: Bill Chow | The Canadian News

As commissioner of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL), Bill Chow has faced a number of significant unforeseen challenges.

Three years ago, he guided the league through the tragic Humboldt Broncos bus accident. The collision between the junior A team bus and a semi-trailer on April 6, 2018 claimed the lives of 16 players and staff near Tisdale, Sask. Thirteen others were injured.

Then last year, the COVID-19 pandemic struck, forcing the league to first pause and then cancel the season.

Chow credits his law enforcement expertise with helping guide him through it all.

“The police experience taught me to have some patience, that sometimes you have to let things evolve, even if you don’t want them to evolve, as much as you want to take charge and do things in a certain way,” he said.

“You can’t always force the square peg into the round hole.”

This week in Shaping Saskatchewan, Chow talks about meeting those challenges and refocusing his attention on the sport he loves.