Skip to content

Hockey continues to thrive in Westlock

Minor hockey is alive and well in Westlock. Registration numbers for both the Westlock and District Minor Hockey Association and Westlock Fun Hockey Association has remained constant, which in a era of shrinking enrolments is encouraging.
Westlock Tier 3 Bantam Warriors’ Ryan Conquergood steers clear of a stick check during a 4-1 loss to Vegreville at the Rotary Spirit Centre on Saturday, Jan. 23.
Westlock Tier 3 Bantam Warriors’ Ryan Conquergood steers clear of a stick check during a 4-1 loss to Vegreville at the Rotary Spirit Centre on Saturday, Jan. 23.

Minor hockey is alive and well in Westlock.

Registration numbers for both the Westlock and District Minor Hockey Association and Westlock Fun Hockey Association has remained constant, which in a era of shrinking enrolments is encouraging.

For this season Westlock minor hockey has approximately 187 kids signed up — from initiation to midget — which is up slightly from 184 last year.

“Registration has been pretty stable over the last three years, which is good, and same with our team numbers,” said Westlock Minor Hockey Association president Denise Boulerice.

“We saw some growth about four years ago, or so, when they entered into a new league and it cut down on our travel. Since then, we haven’t declined, but our growth hasn’t been substantial.”

Players are divided into 13 teams, which is a fairly standard number to have, Boulerice said. Although how many teams at each level is always subject to change.

“At the higher ages, pee wee, bantam and midget, we tend to fluctuate between one to two teams at those levels. Last year we had one two midget teams, but only one peewee team,” Boulerice said.

“Those younger levels we’re fielding three teams at each level for novice and atom. The older teams you always lose kids to other sports and other activities.”

Over in Fun Hockey, approximately 50 players are divided into four teams, based on age and skill level.

Fun Hockey president Dave Hall says numbers are satisfactory, but would always welcome growth.

“It’s doing good. In four years it’s stayed fairly close to that,” said Hall.

“We can sustain where we’re at with those numbers … but growth is always good, it would be nice to have a few bigger teams.”

Hall attributes the success of Fun Hockey as a cost-saving and timesaving alternative to the minor hockey association.

“It’s a good alternative to minor hockey, people that don’t have the funds or the time to spend three or four days a week at hockey,” he said.

“We play two days a week. There’s a practice during the week and a game on Saturday. It’s a little more relaxed.”

In addition, Hall says Fun Hockey is a great foray into the sport for those who have never played before, especially at an older age.

This year both have again have turned to fundraising efforts to help offset cost increases due to an ice rental cost hike from the Town of Westlock.

“The ice time at the Spirit Centre, they’ve got to keep up with inflation, so ice time always ends up costing a little more,” Hall said.

“We’ve been doing 50/50 tickets at home games and we fundraised at our home tournament, they had a bunch of raffle tables and raised around $800. That goes into the club to maintain [costs].”

Minor hockey has its own fundraising initiatives that include a dinner and dance and casino, which bring in funds to subsidize registration costs for parents.

Each year the association also applies to participate in 50/50 draws with the Edmonton Oilers, where volunteers sell 50/50 tickets at Oilers games and receives a cut from sales.

“They allow minor hockey and ringette associations to apply to work them. You can make anywhere from $6,000 up until about $14,000 or $15,000 … We’ve been lucky to have a couple in the last three years,” Boulerice said. “It allows us to keep those registration costs down.”

push icon
Be the first to read breaking stories. Enable push notifications on your device. Disable anytime.
No thanks