Fifteen years in the making, men's senior hockey is back in Yellow Grass.

With the Big Six Hockey League's Arcola Kisbey Combines folding, the southeast town of just  under 450 people stepped up.

"We couldn't ask for more for a commitment from the people there, in the town of Yellow Grass," said general manager of the Yellow Grass Wheat Kings, Ray Erickson.

Erickson said the team came together quickly to make the deadline for this season.

Around 10 players on the Wheat Kings roster came from the Combines, with a handful of players from Yellow Grass and at least one from the Radville Nationals.

The Nationals recently announced a leave of absence from the Qu'Appelle Valley Hockey League.

"I know what it's like for these small towns to keep senior hockey there. It's quite tough. Once you lose a team, it's quite hard to get it back together," said Erickson, adding well wishes to the franchise in the future.

The last time Yellow Grass has a senior men's team was almost 15 years ago.

Erickson said buzz around town has mostly been about getting things done. Residents have helped put in the ice, new glass and general maintenance of the older facility.

The Wheat Kings had their first exhibition game on Sunday.

Their first game of the 2016-17 season is slated for Nov. 8, when they travel to Bienfait to take on the Coalers.

Yellow Grass' first home game is scheduled for Nov. 24, when they host the Carlyle PureChem Cougars.

You can find the full schedule here.