This weekend is a special one for the Prairie Hockey Academy out in Caronport.

After putting together a strong first season last year, the program now prepares to take on a new challenge by joining the Canadian Sport School Hockey League.

P.H.A.'s Elite 15 squad will suit up this weekend for the first time as members of the prestigious CSSHL.

"Very excited, it feels like it's been a long time in the making and ready to get going and probably no better way to start than against the reigning champions at home," said Elite 15 head coach Rodney MacPhee.

P.H.A. will square off with the Northern Alberta Xtreme in games on Saturday and Sunday at the Barkman Arena. 

Northern Alberta went undefeated in 36 games last season on their way to the Elite 15 Division Championship. They will provide a strong opening test for the Cougars and MacPhee feels the team is ready for the challenge.

"They've been going very hard, they aren't going to face anything harder than what they faced in the last 2-3 weeks of our training camp preparing for the season opener," said MacPhee. "There's obviously some nerves there and that's to be expected, it's what you do with those nerves, they don't control you, you're in control, so we'll be ready to go."

The Prairie Hockey Academy opened up shop last season with the Elite 15 team playing in tournaments and exhibition games throughout the year before being accepted in the CSSHL.

This season, they will have a Midget Varsity team to go along with the Elite 15 squad. Both teams will feature some new faces to go along with players from last year’s team.

MacPhee said he likes the look his Elite 15 team heading into their opener.

"Right now, we're half-and-half of returning players and new players, so guys are still trying to figure out where they fit in, but as we go, we're going to be a very competitive team, we're going to be a team with depth, we'll find scoring on all three lines, we'll have an improved defence that will also help us be able to score more goals and I expect to have really good goaltending this year," said MacPhee.

"We'll be a 200-foot team, play at both ends of the ice well, a little bit of physicality and a little bit of skill in there as well."

Moose Jaw's Evan Callaghan will be wearing the 'C' for the Cougars this season, while last year's leading scorer Atley Calvert returns to help lead the way for the team.

"The players are definitely excited, our fans are excited, I know other teams are excited -- coaches from teams that we played last year that I’ve talked to -- everyone is excited to see us get going, but at the end of the day, we still have the same goals, the same jobs to do, league or no league, we have to go out there and put forth our best effort, whether that's in the classroom, in the gym, or in the CSSHL, those are things that will make us successful," said MacPhee.

The Prairie Hockey Academy squares off with the Northern Alberta Xtreme on Saturday night at 6:30 p.m. and then again on Sunday morning at 10 a.m. Both games are at the Barkman Arena.